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TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 




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9 

y. 




NEGOTIATING A DIFFICULT TRAIL 



TWO BOYS IN 
A GYROGAR 

THE STORY OF A NEW YORK 
TO PARIS MOTOR RACE 


KENNETH KENNETH-BROWN 

ILLUSTRATED BY WALLACE GOLDSMITH 



BOSTON AND NEW YORK 
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY 
0iter^ilre Cambri&0e 
1911 



COPYRIGHT, I9II, BY KENNETH KENNETH-BROWN 
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

Published October jqii 





X 

©CI.A30(H29 


TO 

FERRIS GREENSLET 

THE ONLY TRUE BOY MOTORIST 
WHOSE ADVENTURES 
IN MOTORDOM 
THRILL AND INSPIRE 
HIS MOTORLESS FRIENDS 



CONTENTS 


I. A Curious Machine 1 

n. The Boy who would n’t go to Harvard . . 6 

ni. A Midnight Consultation 9 

IV. Conditions 13 

|V. Hiring a Chum 16 

VI. -Why the Woodshed became a Fortress ... 20 
VII. Besieging a Magnate in his Lair .... 27 

Vni. High Hopes] S3 

IX. A New Bird on Billy 39 

X. The Race and the Men and the Cars ... 43 

XI. The Gyrocar’s Public Appearance .... 47 

XII. The Man in the Fur Overcoat ?54 

XIII. An Astounding Proposition 59 

. XIV. “You BET WE CAN !” ’ 62 

XV. A Banished Prince 66 

XVI. In the Hotel Lobby 71 

XVn. An Impromptu Christening 78 

XVin. j^The Conversion op Raleigh 82 

XIX. Billy acts 87 

XX. Mere on Guard 93 

XXI. The Eruption of Sam 98 

XXn. “They ’re off” 103 


Vlll 


CONTENTS 


' XXin. Blythe is inspired to Poetry .... 106 

XXIV. Luncheon at Coldgrave 109 

XXV. “The Conversation Fender” 113 

XXVI. A Notch on the Revolver 119 

XXVII. The Great Snow 124 

XXVIII. Some Newspaper Clippings 129 

XXIX. Back in Punchard 132 

XXX. “ If a Man ’s got any Gimp to Him ” . . 138 

XXXI. Across the Continent . 144 

XXXII. Harnessed for Life 148 

XXXIH. The Light of Asia 154 

XXXIV. What the Heaving Sea disclosed . . . 158 

XXXV. Blythe’s Sign Language, in Japan . . . 163 

XXXVI. An Amateur Suspension Bridge . . . . 170 

XXXVH. Off to Vladfvostock 173 

XXXVHI. Russian Officials 177 

XXXIX. The Sentinels 181 

XL. A Battle Royal 187 

XLI. An Unexpected Check 192 

XLH. A Human Jellyfish 198 

XLin. Revelations 206 

XLIV. In Kotzalki’s Evil Mind 209 

XLV. Still in Perplexity . . . . . . . . 212 

XLVI. The Surprise of Kotzalki 215 

XLVn. The Knock at the Door 220 

' XLVni. A Patient for whom there was no Hope . 229 


CONTENTS ix 

XLIX. An Unpleasant Interruption 232 

L. The Phcenix Bird in Captivity 241 

LI. Poor Merk ! 248 

LEE. A Scratching outside the Door 252 

Lin. What they heard through the Silent Night 256 

LIV. Red Tape — to Cut 262 

LV. A Magical Transition 269 

LVI. The Thing behind • 276 

LVn. At the Breae op Day 280 

LVin. An Extra 286 

LIX. Day and Night 292 

LX. Losing the Lead 296 

LXI. Too Much Enthusiasm 301 

LXn. Paris on Tiptoe 306 


» 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Negotiating a Difficult Trail {page 145) . Frontispiece v 

The Gyrocar and its Ski Attachment llSs^ 

The Amateur Suspension Bridge 172 

Beating off the Wolves 188*^ 

In the Wake of the Gf.and Duke’s Train .... 276 


From Drawings by Wallace Goldsmith 






TWO BOYS IN A GYEOCAK 


CHAPTER I 

A CURIOUS MACHINE 

They were two unusual young fellows, and they 
sat in the waning light of the long summer after- 
noon, brooding over an odd machine, in an odd sort 
of workshop. A handsome collie was curled up in a 
corner, one ear cocked watchfully, even in his sleep. 

Once the workshop had been Squire Kilbreth’s 
old woodshed. Now it looked more like a block- 
house on the frontier, and seemed strangely out of 
place in the sleepy little town of Punchard, Connec- 
ticut. Heavy oak shutters, studded with nails and 
bolts, hung inside the windows. The glass itself was 
covered with whitewash, admitting the light but per- 
mitting no one to look through. And the single door, 
with its huge, hand-wrought hinges, was so massive 
that nothing less than a battering-ram could have 
forced an entrance. 

In addition to these old-fashioned signs of forti- 
fication, there was wiring around the windows and 
the door, which an expert would have surmised to be 
connected with a burglar alarm. 

As for the machine, which all these precautions 


2 


TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


were evidently designed to protect, a casual observer 
would have taken it for a small touring-car ; but on 
a closer inspection one would have been startled, and 
afterwards amused, at the difference between it and 
the ordinary motor-car. And ten men out of ten 
would have pronounced it a freak machine that 
never could work outside the brain of its inventor. 

The two young men themselves were as interest- 
ing as either the machine they were contemplating, 
or the place they were in. The elder and taller of 
the two, Raleigh Kilbreth, had a high forehead and 
straight, fair hair. His gray eyes, set far apart, were 
often dreamy or contemplative, as if his mind were 
on other objects than his immediate surroundings, — 
though they could lighten up wonderfully when the 
instant need of things ” aroused him to action. 

He had the head and the eyes and the long, supple 
hands of the born inventor, from the best of old 
New England stock. 

The younger one was dark, and stockier of build. 
Intense practicalness showed in his earnest eyes, his 
rough, capable hands, and his quiet movements. 
His general appearance was that of one of the work- 
ing-classes, as indeed he was, — Billy Hawpe, son of 
the most skillful blacksmith in Punchard. 

Until it became too dark to see, they worked 
around the car, tightening a bolt here, filing away 
a bit there, testing and trying every part to make 
sure all was in perfect order. When it became too 


A CURIOUS MACHINE 3 

dark for this, they remained brooding over the car, 
their minds still occupied with that which their eyes 
could no longer inspect. 

At last, Billy, with a great sigh of happiness, said 
softly : — 

It ’s all ready ! ” 

Raleigh did not speak. His eyes were looking o£E 
into the distance, a half-smile hovering on his lips. 

Turn on the light,” he said. I ’ve something 
to show you.” 

Billy turned a switch, flooding the shop with elec- 
tric light, and Raleigh pulled a newspaper from his 
pocket, folded to bring a certain column into notice. 

He pointed to it with a long forefinger. 

What do you think of that ? ” he asked. 

The other read it carefully. 

Another automobile race from New York to 
Paris ! That’s interesting, but what has it to do with 
us?” He glanced up at his friend. ^^You don’t 

O ” 

mean — C 

By the Great Horn Spoon, I do mean it! ” Ra- 
leigh shouted. 

Billy Hawpe looked at him a full half-minute to 
make out whether he were joking or not. 

“You aren’t sure yet that the car will work at 
all,” he said at length, soberly. 

“It’s got to work ! ” Raleigh cried passionately. 
“ The small model did — perfectly. It can’t hdp 
running.” 


4 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

Still Billy stared with doubt at his friend. 

‘‘ Have you thought anything about the expense ? ” 

Oh ! hang the expense 1 ” Raleigh replied im- 
patiently. I’ll interest some capitalist — take him 
into partnership — name the car after him.” 

Do you suppose you could ? ” Billy asked 
doubtfully. He had tremendous faith in Raleigh, 
yet this seemed almost too big an undertaking. Do 
you suppose old Mr. Partridge — ” 

Pooh ! Old Partridge would n’t put twenty 
cents into a scheme like this ; and we shall have to 
have twenty thousand dollars, I dare say, to make 
the trip.” 

Whew ! ” whistled Billy, whose breath was some- 
times taken away by his chum’s daring ideas. 

^T’m going to — ” 

Your father?” Billy interrupted hopefully. 

Raleigh shook his head. He could n’t afford to 
risk such a sum of money — and he would n’t do it 
anyway. I’m eroing to New York and brace Morti- 
mer Z. Kidder.” 

Mortimer Z. Kidder!” Billy gasped. ^^Why 
don’t you go on to the President of the United 
States at once and have done with it ? ” 

^^The President of the United States hasn’t the 
money Mr. Kidder has,” Raleigh answered. Then 
suddenly he changed the subject: ^^As soon as it 
gets a little darker we ’ll take her out and try her.” 

This was more tangible for Billy. It was some- 


A CURIOUS MACHINE 


5 


thing he knew about; and for the next half-hour the 
two busied themselves in going over again with the 
utmost care this beloved machine of theirs. It was 
the combined result of Raleigh Kilbreth’s inventive- 
ness and of Billy Hawpe’s marvelous skill with tools, 
and since this last stupendous suggestion of Ra- 
leigh’s, it seemed more than ever important to leave 
absolutely nothing undone which might conduce to 
success. 

There were wonderfully high hopes dependent on 
it, as shall be told in the next chapter. 


CHAPTER II 

THE BOY WHO WOULDN’T GO TO HARVARD 

Indeed a good deal did depend on this curious 
machine, so imlike all other motor-cars — a good deal 
for both these boys. 

A year and a half before this, Raleigh Kilbreth 
graduated from high school, and passed his entrance 
examinations for Harvard. On the morning after he 
returned home from taking the latter, his father said 
to him with a beaming smile : — 

Raleigh,. your mother and I both think you ought 
to go to the ieashore this summer and have a real 
good time. I did not like the way you stayed here 
in Punchard all last summer, pottering around in 
your shop with that Hawpe boy. We want you to 
be fresh and rested in the fall for your studies at 
Harvard.” 

The clear-eyed, well-grown boy of seventeen be- 
came slightly paler, though there would not seem to 
be anything in his father’s words to disturb him. 
Instinctively he turned to his mother. 

Yes,” she said, smiling. You have studied faith- 
fully in school, — though we both feel you might 
have taken higher rank in your class if you had not 


HE WOULDN’T GO TO HARVARD 7 

wasted so much time playing in your workshop, — 
and we want you to have a first-rate time this sum- 
mer.” 

The kind words made it very hard for Raleigh to 
say what was in his mind. He hesitated ; then finally 
blurted out: — 

Father, I don’t want to go to Harvard.” 

Squire Kilbreth looked at his son over his specta- 
cles with surprise. 

That is curious ! ” he said. I did not know you 
preferred some other college to Harvard.” 

It is n’t that,” Raleigh hastened to explain. I 
don’t want to go to college at all.” 

What! ” exclaimed father and mother together. 

Like many other persons, especially in New Eng- 
land, they valued a college education for a young 
man above all else, the more perhaps that they had 
not had it themselves. 

“I went through high school because I knew you 
wanted me to — and because I felt that I needed the 
mathematics,” Raleigh said honestly. 

“ Yes, you did very well in your mathematics,” 
Mrs. Kilbreth assented. I only wish you had stood 
as high in other things.” 

“ But now,” the boy went on, I want to stop 
learning out of books, and do things.” 

There was an ominous pause. 

What branch of business life do you contem- 
plate essaying?” Squire Kilbreth inquired sarcasti- 


8 


TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


cally ; for Raleigh had never impressed him as espe- 
cially businesslike. 

An embarrassed look overspread the face of the 
boy. 

Why, sir, I — I do not wish to — to — go into 
any business,” he stammered. 

“ Really ? Perhaps you would like to spend your 
time in your laboratory, rivaling the inventions of 
Edison?” 

Raleigh flushed at the cutting tone of his father, 
yet he stood to his guns. 

Yes, sir, I should,” he answered. 

Mrs. Kilbreth’s anxious eyes had noted the fric- 
tion arising between father and son, and gently she 
laid her hand on her son’s arm. 

Perhaps your father and I had better talk this 
over alone,” she said. 

V ery well, mother ; only there is one thing I must 
say first. For my experiments I need some money. Oh, 
yes ; you have been awfully good about my allowance, 
but I should need more than that. I thought if father 
would let me use Aunt Jane’s legacy — ” 

We will talk it over, Raleigh,” she interrupted, 
as she saw an angry light come into her husband’s 
eyes at this last suggestion of her son. You had 
better say no more for the present.” 


CHAPTER III 


A MIDNIGHT CONSULTATION 

Mr. and Mrs. Kilbreth talked together half 
that night. At times the Squire hot-headedly would 
insist that Raleigh must do as his parents thought 
best for him. Again he would declare that if the 
boy would not take advantage of the educational 
opportunities offered him, he should go into a store 
and work his ten or twelve hours a day, as he him- 
self had done in his youth. 

But the mother, in her quiet, insistent way, 
brought him to see that something was to be said 
on the boy’s side — that, at least, he ought to be 
given a chance to show what there was in him. 

Both the Squire and Mrs. Kilbreth saw cherished 
dreams of their son’s future disappearing in this de- 
cision. The mother had secretly hoped to see her 
son some day leading the world to better things 
from a Congregationalist pulpit ; while Squire Kil- 
breth — a man of no little influence in Punchard — 
had hoped that his son would become a brilliant 
lawyer — a power in politics — in the state legisla- 
ture — in the governor’s chair — who could tell? — 
perhaps still higher. But unselfishly the mother’s 


10 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


heart and the father’s were willing to give up their 
aspirations for their son, if this would make for his 
happiness. 

The legacy to which Raleigh had referred was 
one on which they had counted to put him through 
college. It had been left him by his aunt ^^to start 
Raleigh in life/’ and could be used in any way which 
seemed best. 

The summer’s early morning was nearly breaking 
when the good couple finally went to sleep, Mrs. 
Kilbreth having persuaded her husband to a com- 
promise which seemed fair to all concerned. 

Raleigh himself had tossed to and fro on his bed 
in a restless sleep, in which he was always dream- 
ing of inventing things which became alive, and 
tormented him. 

One time it was a submarine boat, which floated 
in at the window, with a horrible grin on its face, 
tucked him under its flipper, dived down into the 
ocean, and handed him over to an octopus with the 
remark : — 

Here ’s the boy who invents machines. Now, 
just show him your invention of a hydraulic press.” 

Thereupon the octopus had twined its squashy 
tentacles about him, and squeezed — and squeezed — 
and squeezed — Raleigh awoke to find his left arm 
asleep and tingling, where he thought the octopus 
had taken hold of him. 

When next he went to sleep an aeroplane swooped 


/TMy AJ^JO 

A MIDNIGHT CONSULTATION 11 

down upon him, and grasping him with its claws — 
he was surprised to find it did not have wheels or 
skids, as he had supposed, but horrid, sharp claws 
— swooped out of the window again. 

Up and up it flew, till the earth looked like a 
large moon. Then suddenly it dropped him. 

Good-bye,” it said. ^^Now invent something to 
stop yourself from falling.” 

The last words came faintly, for already he had 
dropped a mile or two. Down and down he fell, with 
a sickening sensation in the pit of his stomach. And 
up rushed the earth to meet him. A mountain-peak 
was just beneath him, and he came down on it so 
hard that he mashed it flat. Just as he was wonder- 
ing if he were dead, he woke up to find that he had 
actually fallen out of bed. It was a tremendous relief 
to find it was nothing worse than that. 

I hope father won’t come down on me to-morrow 
morning as hard as I came down on that mountain,” 
he thought, as he scrambled back into bed. 

His next dream was more reassuring. In it his 
father appeared before him, dressed in a sky-blue 
uniform, with gold epaulets, bearing a platter on 
which was an array of little machines. 

My son,” he said, with a low bow, I must con- 
fess to you that in secret I have always been an in- 
ventor, too. Here on this tray are all the inventions 
which have not yet been invented. You may take 
your choice of them.” 


n TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

Thereupon all the little machines began bowing 
and scraping, begging Raleigh to choose them. 

Raleigh tried to make up his mind which was the 
best, but whenever he fixed his eyes on any particu- 
lar one, that one would begin to ring like an alarm- 
clock, and whirl around so fast that he could hardly 
see it. 

That is curious,” thought Raleigh. I shall have 
to invent some way of keeping them still.” 

^ Just then they all began ringing and whirling to- 
gether, and they made such a din that he woke up 
— to find that really the rising-bell was ringing, and 
it was time to get up. 


CHAPTER IV 


CONDITIONS 

In spite of the reassuring dream of his father in 
a sky-blue uniform offering him inventions on a 
platter, Raleigh had never in his life been quite so 
nervous as the next morning when his father cleared 
his throat with a portentous Ahem 1 ” and prepared 
to acquaint him with the result of the parents’ con- 
sultation. 

^^Your mother and I” — the good man never 
pretended that his wife’s counsels had not great 
weight with him — have decided to give this wish 
of yours a trial, — a fair trial.” 

He peered at his son over his spectacles. 

Thank you, sir,” murmured Raleigh, and waited 
to hear what conditions would be attached to this 
trial. 

^^For the space of two years,” Squire Kilbreth 
continued solemnly, you may follow out your own 
bent. I do not make the condition that you are to 
work faithfully, because I know that you will not 
idle. But if at the end of that time there is no pros- 
pect of your accomplishing worthy results, then you 
are to give it up and go to college, — you will still 


14 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


be young enough for that. And at college you are 
to work with diligence, not wasting any more time 
on experiments while there. Are you willing to abide 
by these conditions ? ” 

Raleigh’s eyes were sparkling at the vista which 
opened before him ; for he had already spent many 
hours on the plans for the machine we found him 
and Billy working over. 

Yes, father, I agree. And — and — I thank you 
— very much,” he stammered. 

Both the father and the mother were glad they 
had acceded to their son’s wish when they saw how 
happy it made him, and the Squire continued, with 
a less stern mien : — 

“ As to the matter of money, while I hardly be- 
lieve your aunt could have had any idea of her 
legacy being spent in such a manner, — though per- 
haps she did, — perhaps she did — ”he broke off, 
wagging his head doubtfully. My sister Jane al- 
ways did have queer fancies, and I sometimes think 
you are like her in a good many ways. However, what 
I was going to say was this : you may take half this 
legacy for your work and experiments. Then, if 
nothing comes of them, you will have to go through 
college on the remainder, and that will mean pretty 
close sailing — perhaps even partly working your 
way — where otherwise you would have been as well 
provided for as any boy need be. I want you to 
think of all this before coming to a decision.” 


CONDITIONS 


15 


^^I can tell you my decision now,” Raleigh re- 
plied quickly. I have thought about it too much 
not to know, and — and — I hope you will never 
be sorry you gave me this chance.” 


CHAPTER V 


HIKING A CHUM 

To some persons it might have seemed the height 
of rashness to turn a boy loose in a workshop, with 
the command of a considerable sum of money ; but 
the Kilbreths had faith in their son, and furthermore 
it was understood that Raleigh should keep a strict 
account of every penny he spent. Squire Kilbreth 
knew that this was one of the very best ways for a 
boy to learn the value of money, and whether he 
was spending it wisely or not. 

The first use Raleigh put his money to was a 
strange one. He went out to try to hire a chum. 

The friendship between Squire Kilbreth’s son and 
the son of old man Hawpe had been a mild scandal 
in the staid town for some time, and several worthy 
ladies clicked their knitting-needles fiercely together 
whenever they fell to discussing it. 

If they were Mrs. Kilbreth they certainly would 
wish a son of theirs to associate with some one else 
than the child of a drunken blacksmith. But there ! 
what was the use of trying to make folks be sensible 
if they were n’t a-goin’ to ? ” 

And in their indignation the worthy ladies would 


HIRING A CHUM 


17 


like as not drop a stitch, while the strong friendship 
between Raleigh and Billy continued as serenely as 
if they quite approved it. 

Old man Hawpe was the best blacksmith in Pun- 
chard. He might easily have been more than this. 
His dexterity with his hands was marvelous. Some 
summer people, who had cottages on the hills to the 
west of the town, had discovered ’’ him, and got 
him to make andirons, lamps, brackets, and similar 
things at very remunerative prices. 

Hawpe had also been discovered long before by 
the proprietor of the machine shop in P unchard, 
who would have been only too glad to employ him 
regularly. But Hawpe was in the habit of going ofE 
on sprees, at irregular intervals, and refused to take 
regular employment with any one. 

Billy’s mother had died when he was twelve years 
old — some said with a broken heart at her husband’s 
habits. The memory of his mother never left Billy, 
nor of the sorrowfully earnest words she used to 
speak to him in the last year of her life. Young as 
he was, she managed to instill in him two fierce re- 
solves : to avoid the temptation toward drink which 
might be latent in his blood ; and to make something 
of himself in the world. 

Unfortunately he found in his father no helper 
toward either of these resolves. Billy was permitted 
to go to school until he was fourteen ; then, from 
mere perversity, Hawpe took him out. The boy re- 


18 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

belled bitterly at this deprivation ; but after many 
sleepless nights of futile planning, he made up his 
mind to accept the kind of education he could have ; 
and for the next two years he learned all about 
mechanics and practical work that his father could 
teach him. 

In time the ambitious boy became a more skillful 
mechanic than his father. When this began to dawn 
on Hawpe, instead of being pleased, he felt a cross- 
grained jealousy of his son’s aptitude. 

It was in this mood Raleigh found him, bleary- 
eyed and grumbling to himself. 

The young inventor at once came to the point. 

‘‘Mr. Hawpe, I want to hire Billy to work for 
me.” 

With his glazed eyes the blacksmith stared at the 
boy. 

“ I said Bill ’d got to work — an’ Bill ’s got to 
work,” he mumbled on. 

“Well, I ’ll pay you three dollars a week for his 
services,” Raleigh said in a businesslike way. 

“ Impident young rascal,” Hawpe continued 
thickly. “It ’s high time he was at work — hanging 
’round my shop — under my feet all the time — more 
bother than he ’s wuth.” 

“ Will you hire him to me?” 

For the first time Hawpe answered Raleigh directly. 

“ I ’d ’s soon hire him out to you ’s to anybody 
else,” he mumbled. Then a dull flame of rage came 


HIRING A CHUM 


19 


into his bloodshot eyes. ^‘Yes, you may have him 
and welcome — impident young scoundrel — thinks 
he knows more’n his father — an’ I taught him 
everything he knows.” 

V ery well, then, just sign this contract.” Raleigh 
whipped out a paper from his pocket. ‘^It’s for two 
years. You won’t be bothered with him during that 
time, anyway,” he added diplomatically. 

^‘Isthasho?” Ha wpe asked, cheering up. Gimme 
the paper.” 

He studied it with stupid gravity, then signed it, 
convinced that at last he had got the better of his 
objectionable son. 

Raleigh had known enough about old man Hawpe 
to appreciate that a formal contract was the only 
thing to keep him from going back on his word 
whenever his mood should change. With the paper 
safe in his pocket, he blithely returned to his own 
workshop, where Billy, trembling with impatience, 
was awaiting the result of his friend’s mission. 


CHAPTER VI 


WHY THE WOODSHED BECAME A FORTRESS 

That contract was signed almost a year and a 
half ago, and every minute since then had been 
filled with interest for the two boys. There had 
been disappointments and failures; moments of a 
kind of excitement which do not usually fall to the 
lot of peaceful inventors; and through it all a 
steady march toward success. 

For a time the woodshed preserved its usual ap- 
pearance. The first change came when Raleigh de- 
cided to install electric lights in it in order that 
they could work as well on dark days and in the 
evening as when the sun shone. 

Then one morning — it was three months after 
they began work — they came to the shop and found 
it wrecked. The electric wires were cut and torn 
from their fastenings; the tools had been taken 
from their racks, and were either gone or lay scat- 
tered about the floor; and worst of all, their model — 
fruit of three months^ constant thought and labor — 
lay overturned and demolished before them. Had a 
veritable battle raged through the shop, it could not 
have presented a more desolate appearance. Neither 


THE WOODSHED A FORTRESS 


of the boys could say a word for fear of bursting 
into tears. It was a bitter moment for them ; but it 
is from such moments that one learns to safeguard 
the future. 

Billy finally began to pick up wbat scattered tools 
were left, and to bring some order out of the cbao| 
of destruction. 

Raleigh sat quietly on a box, a far-away look in 
bis eyes, utterly oblivious of the present. For a 
balf-bour be sat without stirring. At length be 
came back to the present. 

This shall never happen again,” be announced, 
and bis teeth shut with a click. Sam Peavy’s at 
the bottom of this, but I don’t suppose we can 
prove it — or that it would do any good if we could. 
But Sam will never get in here again. Never mind 
the car,” for Billy was mournfully trying to re- 
assemble the pieces of their invention. Wbat we Ve 
got to do now is to fortify this place.” 

The next few weeks were spent in carrying out 
Raleigh’s plans. Only when they felt that the mis- 
chievous idle boys of the town — who resented the 
fact that Raleigh and Billy would rather work than 
join them in their pranks — could not repeat their 
work of destruction, did the two young . inventors 
again turn to their ruined model and start to work 
on it anew. 

For the next year following, however, they had 
to be constantly on their guard. They never knew 


22 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


when, or in what form, an attempt against them 
would take place. 

It must be said, for most of the other boys in 
town, that they were not entirely prompted by mal- 
ice. It became with them a sort of game, more ex- 
citing than playing smugglers or Indians, or even 
than trying to rob old Mr. Partridge’s orchard. 
When Raleigh and Billy met any of the boys whom 
they suspected of these attacks, the latter grinned 
at them in quite a friendly manner — all except 
Sam, to whom was due the instigation and persever- 
ance in this destructive mischief. 

Sam Peavy was one of those mean-spirited boys 
who take pride in nourishing a spite. He was a big, 
hulking fellow, and was naturally a bully among the 
other boys. Raleigh, himself nearly as tall as Sam, 
had never come into collision with him, until one 
day when he found him cruelly beating a small 
boy, while two or three other small boys stood by 
in misery, not daring to interfere. 

Hold on, there ! ” Raleigh cried. What are you 
licking that kid for ? ” 

None o’ your darn business,” Sam snarled back, 
and you keep your mug out of this, or you ’ll be 
treated the same way.” He turned back with pleased 
anticipation to the chastisement of the small boy. 

Raleigh grew pale ; for Sam was renowned as a 
fighter; but his eyes blazed at the merciless way 
Sam struck the small boy. 


THE WOODSHED A FORTRESS 23 

^^Stop that!” he yelled, take some one of 
your own size.” 

There was faint applause from the other small 
boys, and without a word Sam turned and struck 
Raleigh with all his might in the face. Raleigh 
went down like a ninepin, but sprang up again like 
a rubber ball, and half-crying with pain and rage 
went for the bully. For fifteen long minutes they 
fought, the smaller boys dancing around in an ec- 
stasy of hope and fear lest their champion fail. 

When Raleigh could hardly stand any longer, 
Sam suddenly called ’Nough 1 ” and admitted 
himself vanquished. 

One closed eye, and a very bloody nose, was a 
small price to pay for the glow of satisfaction which 
surged through Raleigh’s bruised body at this magic 
word. He held out his hand to Sam, but the latter 
pretended not to see it, and limped away, muttering. 

Billy Ha wpe was the small boy whom Raleigh had 
rescued, and this was the beginning of their friend- 
ship. Raleigh himself bore not the slightest ill-will 
toward Sam ; but the latter never forgot his thrash- 
ing, nor the promise he made himself to get even ” 
with Raleigh. 

The opportunity for this had never come before. 
In school Raleigh only laughed at Sam’s churlish- 
ness, and Sam carefully avoided any direct contest 
with him. 

When their shop was wrecked, neither Raleigh 


M TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

nor Billy had the slightest doubt as to who was re- 
sponsible for the mischief, though they had no proofs 
whatever. Since they had no intention of making any 
complaints — not even to Squire Kilbreth — this did 
not matter. That they were not taking needless pre- 
cautions, however, they had abundant proof during 
the months that followed. 

Many a night — awakened by the burglar alarm — 
Raleigh would rush out, armed with a stout hickory 
club, and find signs of an attempt to break into the 
shed. On other nights, when a vague sense of disas- 
ter would not let them rest quietly in bed, both boys 
would take a couple of blankets and sleep in the shop. 

They learned to become as unceasingly watchful 
and resourceful as frontiersmen in a hostile Indian 
country. They became so inured to hardship that 
they could rest perfectly on the bare floor. They 
learned, too, to sleep lightly and to awaken at the 
slightest noise, — to awaken, not to sleepy half -com 
sciousness, but to instant, wide-awake alertness. 

In all this Sam Peavy was unconsciously render- 
ing them a service which they were to appreciate to 
the full before many months were past. 

Their final precaution was the purchase of a young 
collie. When Squire Kilbreth came upon the item, in 
Raleigh’s accounts, of One collie pup — $5,” he 
raised his eyebrows. 

‘^Do you call that a legitimate manufacturing 
expense? ” he inquired. 


THE WOODSHED A FORTRESS 25 


^^Yes, I think so, father,” Raleigh replied, and 
told of the repeated attempts made to wreck the 
workshop. 

Squire Kilbreth made no further comment, and as 
for the collie, Merk (short for Mercury), in a short 
time he seemed to understand just what was expected 
of him. He would roam around the yard at all hours 
of the night, soft-footed and silent, unless he dis- 
covered an intruder, when he would make a furious 
commotion. After his advent the boys could sleep 
in their beds without fear. 

The first thing Raleigh taught Merk was never to 
accept anything to eat, except from his master. And 
the chunks of poisoned meat which from time to 
time were found about the place were thus rendered 
harmless to destroy this vigilant ally of the young 
inventors. 

Even Squire Kilbreth had to acknowledge the 
collie an invaluable member of the combination, 
some nine months after his arrival, when his furious 
barking awakened the whole Kilbreth family, to 
find an armful of oil-soaked waste brightly burning 
against the door of the workshop. A few minutes 
later and nothing could have saved the building and 
the precious machine inside. 

This proved to be the last attack made on their 
machine while it was in Punchard. Sam Peavy, evi- 
dently frightened at what he had done, ran away from 
town, and with his departure all molestation ceased. 


26 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


This was shortly before the time when our story 
opens, — to which we will now return, — and as Ra- 
leigh waved his newspaper, telling of the second 
New York to Paris automobile race, Merk looked up 
intelligently at him, and seemed to give his thorough 
approval of the plan of taking part in it. 


CHAPTER VII 


BESIEGING A MAGNATE IN HIS LAIR 

A MONTH later, Raleigh Kilbreth was on his way 
to New York. His coat pocket bulged with draw- 
ings and photographs. His heart beat tumultuously, 
now with hope, and again with fear of failure. 

What had appeared a reasonable plan in Pun- 
chard lost every vestige of plausibility as he neared 
the metropolis. There were such vast numbers of 
persons in New York, and they were all so intent 
on their own business : what chance was there that 
a great man could be induced to give attention and 
money to the insignificant affairs of a boy ? 

Raleigh had spoken so confidently of interesting 
a financier in their invention that he had dazzled 
Billy ; but Billy would have been surprised could 
he have known how tremulously his chum’s heart 
was quaking, now that the actual interview was ap- 
proaching. 

The city itself stupefied Raleigh. He had been in 
New York before, of course ; but it had been as a 
sight-seer, with money to pay the big city for amus- 
ing him. Going to her a suppliant, to obtain money, 
not to spend it, she turned a different mien to him. 


28 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

But though his heart quaked, Raleigh stoutly 
wended his way down to that part of the city where 
the buildings tower the highest, where men rush 
around the fastest, and where the money-kings have 
their lairs. 

Mortimer Z. Kidder ! 

Raleigh had only to mention the name, and any 
errand boy could tell him where the great man’s 
office was. Forty-two-and-a-half Wall Street” was 
as well known in financial New York as the White 
House is in Washington. 

But finding the office of a magnate, and obtain- 
ing an interview with him, Raleigh discovered to 
be two quite different propositions. A surly clerk 
in the outer office of Mr. Kidder’s handsome suite 
eyed him suspiciously when he asked to see Mr. 
Kidder. 

Raleigh had never been looked over in quite this 
way before, and it made a hot wave of resentment 
flash over him. 

What ’s your name ? ” demanded the clerk, as 
if a prisoner were being arraigned before him. 

Raleigh Kilbreth.” 

What ’s your business?” 

That I can only tell Mr. Kidder,” Raleigh an- 
swered firmly. 

Well, you can’t see him. He ’s busy.” 

“ I ’ll wait till he is at leisure,” Raleigh answered. 

The surly clerk gave him one more glance — as 


A MAGNATE IN HIS LAIR 29 


pleasant as if he had caught him trying to pick his 
pocket — and then paid no further attention to him. 

Raleigh waited an hour, — two hours. Other men 
came in : a few were admitted to the inner offices ; 
the rest, rebufPed, went away. 

Luncheon-time came, and a substitute of equally 
forbidding disposition took the place of the clerk. 

Do you think Mr. Kidder can see me now ? ” 
Raleigh ashed the newcomer. 

Mr. Kidder ’s gone out to luncheon — can’t tell 
when he ’ll be back — no use your trying to see 
him anyway.” 

The words were spitfired at him. 

Raleigh only laughed. The difficulties of the 
game were rousing his pugnacity. 

I ’ll go out and get luncheon, too — can’t tell 
when I ’ll be back — but you can bet your bottom 
dollar I ’ll keep coming back till I see Mr. Kidder,” 
he announced cheerfully, in the jerky manner of the 
clerk. 

The elevator took him swiftly down, and he 
emerged into the street, wondering where, in this 
labyrinth of tall buildings, he should find some- 
thing to eat. The white sign of a Quick Lunch 
Restaurant ” caught his eye. 

He entered in company with a number of other 
men and boys. Most of them moved along with 
the self-confidence of habitual patrons. Each seized 
a big nickle-plated platter from a pile, and walked 


30 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


down the counter, selecting the things he wanted. 
No waiter paid any attention to them, except to 
hand out to them mugs of coffee or cocoa or milk. 
As each man filled up his platter, he scurried to any 
place that happened to be vacant at the numberless 
small tables in the large room. 

Raleigh followed their example. He chose a 
ham sandwich, an egg, a piece of pumpkin pie, and 
asked for a cup of coffee. 

At the end of the counter a girl stood with a 
bunch of tickets in her hand. She gave a glance at 
Raleigh’s platter, punched one of her tickets, and 
tossed it down beside his egg. 

Pay at the desk,” she said laconically. 

He took his seat at a small table, and hurriedly 
began munching his sandwich. There was no rea- 
son why he should hurry, except the contagious ex- 
ample of every one else. When the last crumb of 
his pie was eaten, Raleigh noticed that he had taken 
barely nine minutes for the meal. 

^^Well, I suppose I might as well go back and 
wait in the outer office,” he thought. They ’ll see 
that I mean business, at any rate.” 

The elevator shot him up to the eighteenth floor, 
as if he had been a mail package in a pneumatic 
tube, and once more he confronted the surly clerk 
who had kept him at bay all the morning. 

Can I see Mr. Kidder yet ? ” he asked politely. 

Without a word the clerk glowered at him. 


A MAGNATE IN HIS LAIR 31 

^^See here, why do you look at me so suspi- 
ciously ? ” Raleigh asked. 

I ’m paid to be suspicious,” the clerk retorted 
bluntly. The ghost of a smile flickered on his lips, 
then disappeared as if afraid of being seen there. 

If you think I ’m dangerous, search me, and 
make sure I have n’t a cake of dynamite in my jeans. 
Come on ! ” Raleigh held out his arms horizontally, 
grinning at the clerk. 

The man arose from his seat and solemnly took 
him at his word. Raleigh had never picked a pocket, 
hut he almost felt as if he had been caught in the 
act, as the clerk methodically searched him, not only 
emptying every pocket, but pawing him all over, 
like a baker kneading bread. 

The sheaf of drawings he passed over with a sour 
smile. Drawings were no novelty to him, nor did he 
consider them dangerous. When he finished, Raleigh 
drew a long breath. 

You certainly made a good job of that. I feel 
as if I ’d been turned inside out — and shaken. You 
don’t think I could do any harm to Mr. Kidder now, 
do you ? ” 

The clerk laid a suggestive hand on Raleigh’s 
arm. 

Pretty good biceps,” he growled. 

Raleigh’s face fell in comical dismay. 

That ’s a fact ! But you don’t think I ’d hit an 
old gentleman, do you ? ” 


32 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

There were few people who did not like Raleigh 
Kilbreth, with his frank honest manner, and even 
the Kidder clerk thawed a trifle before him. 

No, I don’t think so, but I may be mistaken. I 
hold my job here as long as I make no mistakes — 
and I ’ve got a wife and three children.” 

The unexpectedly human ending to the sentence 
made the boy look at this unprepossessing employee 
in a different light, and he felt quite sorry for him, 
doomed to regard all his fellow men with the eyes 
of suspicion. 

His thoughts were interrupted by the tinkle of a 
bell. The clerk disappeared into the inner office. 
Five minutes later he reappeared in the doorway and 
beckoned to Raleigh. 

Mr. Kidder will see you now,” he said, and al- 
most looked pleasant. 


CHAPTER VIII 


HIGH HOPES 

Raleigh stood before the financier, an elderly, 
fat man, with a slow, shrewd glance. 

Well, young man, what is it you want to see me 
about? ” he rumbled. 

There was so much Raleigh wanted to say that he 
did not know where to begin. 

Why — I have invented a — an automobile, and 
I — ” 

^^Want me to go into partnership with you, I 
suppose.” 

Exactly ! ” Raleigh assented, with an engaging 
grin. 

Young man, there are an average of nine hun- 
dred cranks a day who would like me to go into 
partnership with them,” boomed the financier. 

This was not encouraging, but Raleigh collected 
his wits, and persisted : — 

Mr. Kidder, will you give me just a few min- 
utes to prove to you that I ’m not a crank ? Then 
you can accept my proposition or not, as you like.” 

The financier nodded. 

You know, of course, about the second automo- 
bile race from New York to Paris next month? ” 


84 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


Another nod. 

Raleigh hesitated an instant, then plunged on : — 
Mr. Kidder, I have invented a car which I be- 
lieve can win that race.” 

The venerable financier smiled indulgently. He 
had met so many men, young and old, who thought 
they had solved things. But there was something he 
liked about the yellow-haired youth with the gray 
eyes. And toward the close of the day he could afford 
himself a little relaxation. 

Tell me about it.” 

‘‘You know what enormous difficulties the regu- 
lar, four-wheeled cars had to overcome in the first 
race, on account of the poor going,” Raleigh be- 
gan. 

“ You have invented an aeroplane attachment to 
carry you over the rough places, I suppose ? ” Mr. 
Kidder asked, with ponderous humor. 

“ Not quite, — but look at these drawings.” 

The magnate glanced over them, carelessly at 
first, then with more attention. 

“What’s this,” he muttered, “a two-wheeled, 
single-track automobile ? H’m ! Think you Ve got 
something wonderful here, don’t you ? But it ’s no- 
thing more than a huge motor-cycle. And every 
time you slow up, it ’ll flop over on its side.” 

“ No, sir, it won’t,” said Raleigh. 

“ Won’t, eh ? Hop out and prop it up, will you ? ” 

Raleigh’s eyes were dancing. “It will stand in 


HIGH HOPES 35 

perfect equilibrium, without any outside support, so 
long as the motor runs,” he said eagerly. 

Overcome gravity ? ” Mr. Kidder asked sarcasti- 
cally. 

In a way. You see there ’s a gyroscope under 
that hood, revolving in a vacuum, at the rate 
of—” 

Ha ! ” the financier cried. Like Brennan’s 
mono-rail car ! ” 

Exactly. What he has done for the railroad car, 
I have done for the automobile.” 

There was a full minute’s pause, while the finan- 
cier pored over the drawings. 

Does it work ? ” he asked at last. 

That ’s why I ’m here. My car can go anywhere 
a bicycle can — practically anywhere a team of dogs 
can drag a sledge.” 

In his excitement Raleigh gave the table a thump 
with his fist, such as it rarely received from any one 
less than a multi-millionaire. 

It means,” he continued eagerly, a car that 
cannot turn turtle. If my car is going along the side 
of a bank it may slip to the bottom, but it can’t 
upset. If it runs over a precipice it may be smashed 
into smithereens, but it will be smashed with its 
wheels under it. — See here ! ” 

He took from his pocket a common gyroscope top 
— which the clerk in searching him had not consid- 
ered dangerous — and set it going. Then he hung it 


36 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

horizontally from the edge of an ivory ruler, which 
he picked up from Mr. Kidder’s desk. 

By all the laws of gravitation that top ought to 
fall ; Wt it will hang on there so long as it spins.” 

The magnate’s eyes began to glisten. He would 
not have been the man he was, had he lacked im- 
agination. 

Yes, I know something about that,” he said. 

Raleigh’s hopes seemed certain of fulfillment. He 
spread out more of the drawings in front of the 
millionaire. 

If my machine had been intended solely for this 
race, it would n’t have been different. Most machines 
have to be hung low, for safety at speed, or on sid- 
ling roads. But mine has three-foot wheels, and a 
two-foot clearance of the roadway, and yet, as I said, 
it canH tip over. It ’s air-cooled — that ’s a twenty 
per cent saving of weight. It has friction drive and 
may he geared down indefinitely, so that no con- 
ceivably bad roads could prevent the wheels from 
turning, so long as the motor worked.” 

For a full five minutes the financier studied the 
drawings carefully. Then he laid them down with an 
air of finality. 

My boy,” he said kindly, if I did not have on 
my hands at present one of the biggest financial 
undertakings which America ever saw, I would look 
into this. As it is, I wish you success, but I cannot 
associate myself with you in it.” 


HIGH HOPES ^ 37 

He touched a bell, and an attendant came in on 
the instant. 

Good-afternoon.” 

The end came so suddenly that Raleigh found 
himself again in the outer office and on his way to 
the street before he could realize that his hopes, 
which had mounted so high in the last few minutes, 
were dashed to earth. 

Slowly he walked up Broadway, oblivious of his 
surroundings: of the tall buildings, the shops, the 
bulletin boards in front of the newspaper offices*, of 
the crowds of people homeward bound. 

At the bridge terminus he automatically got into 
a Madison Avenue car. Automatically he gave up 
his seat to a lady, — nor noticed that he was the only 
one to do so, — and eighteen minutes later, after the 
conductor three times had shouted, Grand Central 
Station,” he automatically got off. Still in a brown 
study he walked to one of the ticket offices and 
pushed a bill toward the clerk behind the grating. 

Where to ? ” asked the ticket-seller. 

What?” Raleigh asked vaguely. 

Think I ’m a mind reader ? ” the ticket-seller 
snapped. Where do you want a ticket for ? ” 

Only half-rousing himself from his abstraction, 
Raleigh answered : — 

Paris.” 

The ticket-seller pushed back the bill. 

’T ain’t enough ! ” he said sarcastically. 


38 TWO JOYS IN A GYROCAR 


Oh ! ” Raleigh woke up at last. I ’m afraid it 
isn’t.” He shook his head sadly. Well, then, give 
me one to Punchard, Connecticut.” . 

The ticket-seller stamped the pasteboard swiftly 
and tossed it out. Then he took time from his official 
duties for a scornful smile at Raleigh’s retreating 
figure. 

Nutty ! ” he ejaculated. 


CHAPTER IX 


A NEW BIRD ON BILLY 

Raleigh’s gloomy eyes looked through the car 
window on the darkening landscape. Presently he 
would be back in Punchard and have to tell Billy 
that he had failed. And the bitterest part of the 
disappointment was that it seemed such a useless 
failure. Mortimer Z. Kidder might just as easily 
have assented as refused. Raleigh knew that for an 
instant it had been touch and go which way the 
financier would decide. 

I ’d have named the old car after him,” he mut- 
tered wrathfully. 

His thoughts continued circling round and round 
the subject. Once he sat up in his seat and struck 
the open palm of his left hand so violent a blow 
with his right fiat that it stung. 

By Jove ! I don’t see now why he did n’t do 
it!” 

Unconsciously he had spoken aloud, and a drum- 
mer across the aisle grinned at him sympathetic- 
ally. 

Threw you down, did he ? ” he remarked. 

Raleigh laughed and settled back in his seat, and 


40 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

during the remainder of the journey, whatever his 
thoughts he kept them to himself. 

Billy met him at the station, eager for news. 
Raleigh shook his head. It ’s no go.” 

The two young men left the station in silent de- 
pression. The street lamps of Punchard shone dimly 
in the gloaming. 

By George ! I ’d like to start in that race,” Ra- 
leigh presently murmured to himself. 

So would I,” Billy echoed solemnly. 

They walked on in silence for a quarter of an hour. 
At length Raleigh looked up, a half -smile on his 
lips. Billy,” he asked, did you ever hear of a 
Phoenix?” 

Sure thing. There was a trotting horse here at 
the County Fair named Phoenix ; and there is the 
Phoenix Fire Insurance Company — ” 

No, I mean the Phoenix bird.” 

Billy wrinkled his forehead. 

Phoenix bird ? I thought I knew all the birds 
around here. Is the Phoenix, maybe, a new breed of 
hens, like those Indian games old Mr. Partridge — ” 
^‘No, the Phoenix was a mythical bird of the 
olden times, and when he grew old he used to burn 
himself up, and then from the ashes there came a 
brand-new Phoenix, just as lively as ever,” 

Billy looked doubtfully at his chum. This Phoenix 
bird and his habits did not appeal to his common 
sense. 


A NEW BIRD ON BILLY 41 

Seems as if more likely there ’d have come out 
roast Phoenix/’ he observed. 

There did n’t, though. And my schemes all 
seem to be like Phoenixes. No sooner is one of them 
destroyed than another springs up from its ashes.” 

^‘Oh ! is that all?” Billy exclaimed, considerably 
relieved. What plan have you now ? ” 

Raleigh did not reply at once, though his eyes 
shone from the thoughts he was thinking. Sud- 
denly he blurted out — 

Billy, I had my mouth all made up for that race. 
Suppose — suppose we go in it, anyway.” 

The other stared at Raleigh. 

“But you said it would cost thousands of dol- 
lars.” 

“ So it will — thousands and thousands,” Raleigh 
assented cheerfully. “But — Billy, do you know 
what one of the most valuable things in business 
is?” 

“ What?” 

“ Publicity ! — becoming known ! — advertising ! 
And here ’s our chance for free advertising. It will 
cost us mighty little to start in the race, and if we 
only go as far as Buffalo — as Albany, even — the 
whole world will hear about us and our machine.” 

“ That ’s so,” Billy assented solemnly. 

“ And if the whole world hears about us,” Raleigh 
went on, a jubilant ring to his voice, “ some manu- 
facturer may offer to see us through for a half-inter- 


42 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


est in our patents. Or,” and his eyes twinkled, some 
romantic maiden lady with untold millions may so 
admire your black eyes that she will put the said 
untold millions at our disposal. Then we shall win 
the race, and all you ’ll have to do will be to marry 
the lady with the untold age — I mean millions.” 

Oh ! come off the perch ! ” Billy exclaimed, 
blushing. 

When his chum had a certain dancing light in his 
eyes, he never could quite make out how much he 
meant and how much he was fooling. 

^^But if we’re going to do this,” Raleigh said 
more seriously, we ’ve got to hustle the next month. 
I ’ve thought of two or three little things that we 
shall need to help us, and we ’ve got to get to work 
on them at once.” 


CHAPTER X 


THE RACE AND THE MEN AND THE CARS 

In Siberia there are quaking, bottomless morasses, 
called savannas, covered with a thin crust of dried 
dirt. On this crust lightly weighted travelers may 
pass in safety, though in fear ; but heavy wagons or 
automobiles break through frequently, and, unless 
speedily rescued with men and boards and ropes, 
sink gradually out of sight and are lost forever. 

Both in the Peking to Paris race, won by Prince 
Borghese in 1907, and in the first circumglobu- 
lar contest from New York to Paris, won by the 
Thomas car in 1909, these savannas were the great- 
est terrors to the contestants. The mistake -of the 
latter race was the late date, in midwinter, on which 
it started. For while this forced the cars and their 
drivers to endure the full rigor of an American 
winter, in the journey across our continent, it was 
not early enough to enable them to pass over the 
dreaded savannas when these were yet frozen hard. 

This time the start was to be on Thanksgiving 
Day. Thus San Francisco might be reached — if the 
weather proved favorable — before the worst of the 
winter set in ; and the savaijnas could be crossed 
before they were thawed out by the spring. 


44 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

The contestants were to assemble in the officially 
designated garage on Tuesday, November 27, two 
days before the start. 

There were thirteen entries, and twice as many 
drivers or mechanicians. 

All hut two of these were already famous wher- 
ever the automobile was known. 

There was Wilde jagd, a jolly, fat German, whom 
by his looks one would expect^ to see driving a dray 
rather than a devil-wagon, but one who had won 
more big automobile contests than any man living 
— or dead. He did not in the least mind answer- 
ing to the American perversion of his name, Willie 
Jag.’^ 

There was Bull, the Englishman. Whatever his 
first name had been originally, he had long since 
learned to answer to John.” Twice he had been 
first in the great Land’s End to John o’ Groat’s race. 
Bellerton, his team mate, had once held all the bi- 
cycle records from twenty-five to a hundred miles, 
and was willing to risk his neck at any time to gain 
equal fame motoring. The Frenchman, Tizaine, de- 
bonair and enthusiastic, had set France on fire by 
defeating all the Germans, even Wildejagd, in the 
last Vienna to Berlin race. He had lately been de- 
voting himself to the aeroplane, but condescended 
to return to earth again for this great contest. 

Hotstough, the American, had just spent a month 
among the Rockies, to accustom himself to the vicis- 


THE RACE, THE MEN, THE CARS 45 

situdes he expected to encounter. He was a Vander- 
bilt Cup winner. 

Renshaw, the Canadian (who was to pilot a Ger- 
man car), had once been sergeant in the Canadian 
Royal Mounted Police, and was one of the hot 
favorites. What he did n’t know about the wilds of 
North America was n’t worth knowing. 

But it is useless to go through the list. Every one 
of twenty-four experienced motor-men was a favorite 
with some portion of the public. Each of them had 
won races, had had hairbreadth escapes, had proved 
his courage and resourcefulness in many a hard- 
fought contest. 

Only the other two, who made up the twenty-six, 
were unknown, — two striplings just growing into 
manhood, who were going into this race with a little, 
low-powered, two-cylinder car of their own inven- 
tion. Neither they nor their machine had thus far 
roused the slightest interest in the public. Their 
names had been published at the foot of the list of 
entries, with the ridiculous horse-power of their ma- 
chine ; hut it was assumed that they were a couple 
of nobodies who had seized this opportunity to see 
their names in print. As for their car, what could 
such a midget hope to accomplish against the pick 
of the world ? For the world had sent on its best and 
strongest. 

England was represented by the Asquith Flyer, 
the Reliable Thames, and the Gowfefs Goer, 


46 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

Germany pinned her faith to the big Liebig^ with 
the Bismarck a close second. 

Italy, besides the wonderful Ahruzzi, had the 
Ischia and CaprL 

The French cars were the Briquette and the Boni- 
casteL 

While, as might have been expected from their suc- 
cess on the track, during the year before, America was 
represented by the Yankee Doodle and the Dixie, 

In addition to all these, there was the Leopold 
Amphibian^ an ingenious Belgian machine, which, 
without any alteration, could pass from land to water, 
where its speed was twelve miles an hour. 

During the winter this accomplishment would be 
of little value ; but later, when the thaws began to 
set in, the Leopold hoped to gain many miles on its 
competitors through its ability to cross streams irre- 
spective of the condition of the bridges. Indeed a 
report at one time gained credence that emissaries 
of the Leopold Company were to be sent ahead to 
blow up bridges, but there was no truth to this. 

Most of the cars were between sixty and seventy 
horse-power, the Amphibian alone being as low as 
forty-five ; while the Capri was eighty, the Gowfer’s 
Goer a hundred, and the huge LAebig a hundred 
and twenty horse-power. 

And it was among these leviathans that the little 
gyrocar was daring to thrust its puny self, with its 
two young drivers — and their dog. 


CHAPTER XI 

THE GYROCAr’s PUBLIC APPEARANCE 

Very early in the morning of this Tuesday, No- 
vember 27, Raleigh and Billy were out of bed and 
making ready for the run to New York. Everything 
they could think of had already been done the night 
before, so they were able to be off while yet Pun- 
chard stretched in its bed and yawningly prepared to 
get up. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kilbreth were nearly as excited as 
their son. None of the four could eat much break- 
fast, but Mrs. Kilbreth put them up luncheon enough 
to feed them halfway to the North Pole, so there was 
no danger of their arriving in New York hungry. 

With her last lingering good-bye kiss Mrs. Kil- 
breth thrust an envelope into her son’s hand ; and 
then father and mother stood waving to the adven- 
turers as they drove away, brave in two imposing 
pairs of goggles, but otherwise far from accoutred 
like the fur-capped, fur-gloved, fur-booted, and fur- 
mantled opponents they were soon to meet. 

As they sped out of sight, Mr. Kilbreth turned to 
his wife. 

1 declare, mother, I don’t know as it was wise to 


48 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

let those two boys go on this wild-goose chase,” he 
said, with a doubtful shake of his head. Raleigh 
will spend all the rest of his Aunt Jane’s legacy, 
and then if some manufacturer does n’t take up his 
machine — ” 

But the mother’s faith was serenely proof against 
any doubts, and she brusquely interrupted those of 
her husband. 

Squire, that was the best idea Raleigh ever had. 
It can’t help interesting some manufacturer in him.” 

It ’s a good deal of money to spend,” he grum- 
bled on. I believe it would have been better — ” 

‘^Well, there is no use thinking about that now. 
They are gone, and you are not speedy enough to 
catch up with them.” 

Meanwhile, as if to escape just some such danger, 
the gyrocar was rolling swiftly onward, its drivers in 
high spirits. They fastened their overcoats up under 
their chins, and wound their voluminous mufflers 
round and round their necks, to keep out the nipping 
air. 

They nodded gayly to the early milkman on his 
rounds. The man was too much astounded to speak. 
It was the first time the gyrocar had been out in the 
light of day. All its trials had been made at night, 
and on lonely, unlighted roads, where its own head- 
light had blinded the' chance wayfarer rather than 
aided him to scrutinize it. 

That the two were working on some invention of 


THE CAR’S PUBLIC APPEARANCE 49 


Raleigh’s, all Punchard knew ; and all Punchard con- 
cluded that if it had amounted to anything, Pun- 
chard would long ago have heard what it was. 

Now the milkman simply stared at them, his eyes 
popping from his head, and his mouth ajar. Just as 
they were passing out of sight he recovered himself 
sufficiently to ejaculate : — 

Gosh, what a car ! ” 

Indeed, the gyrocar was a sight to make a man 
look twice. Its two wheels being, naturally, under 
the centre of the car, were largely hidden by the 
body ; and the absence of the usual four wheels at 
the corners made it appear to be gHding over the 
ground without visible means of support. 

When one realized that it was not a new-fangled 
kind of aeroplane, but an automobile, it seemed too 
tall and top-heavy. Only on noting the graceful 
way it leaned inward on rounding a corner did one 
lose the feehng of its instability. 

A mile out of Punchard, to get away from a 
frightened horse, Raleigh drove up on a bank. He 
brought the car to a stand, and the uncanny way it 
remained upright, on the sloping ground, in perfectly 
stable equilibrium, caused the driver almost to forget 
his capering steed. 

Thoroughly enjoying the interest they roused in 
the few people they met, the young men rolled 
smoothly over the none too good roads leading away 
from their native town. The two large wheels took 


50 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

up much of the vibration, overriding inequalities 
as smaller wheels could not have done, and they 
were helped by excellent oil-tempered springs and 
five-inch tires. 

The body of the car was a plain, box-like affair, 
with wooden seats, in place of the luxurious up- 
holstering of the usual touring-car. They had not 
spent much time on that ; but the backs were cleverly 
sloped to make them comfortable, and Mrs. Kilbreth 
had made two fat cushions for them to sit on. 

It was a great idea of your mother’s to make us 
these cushions,” Billy observed. We ’d be kind of 
cold without them.” 

This brought to Raleigh’s mind the envelope his 
mother had given him on parting. He drew it from 
his pocket. 

I wonder what is in here,” he said. 

It crinkled suggestively as he opened it. There 
was a half sheet of note-paper, with these words 
written on it — 

From mother — to help you a little farther — 

and then ten crisp twenty-dollar bills. 

Raleigh gulped, and the tears came into his eyes. 

“ Is n’t she a — a brick ! ” Billy said ; but Raleigh 
could not say a word. 

The trip to New York passed off so quickly and 
uneventfully that it was only a little after nine 
o’clock when they reached the official garage in 


THE CAR’S PUBLIC APPEARANCE 51 


Times Square. A man swung open the door for 
them. The car drove inside and came to a stop, 
standing on its two wheels, as steady as a rock, the 
gyroscope softly humming in its vacuum hood. 

The first person to pay any attention to it was the 
Austrian, Czizz, whose name sounded like drawing 
soda-water, but who drove like a hurricane. 

Du lieber Himmel ! ” he ejaculated feebly. 

Was ist denn das ? ” 

Several men, attracted by the Austrian’s interest, 
crowded around the car. 

An ominous growl from Merk, and he sprang to 
his feet, his hair rising fiercely on his neck. 

Quiet, boy 1 What ’s the matter ? ” Raleigh 
commanded. 

Hullo, fellers ! ” sounded the familiar voice of 
Sam Pfeavy ; adding impudently, Guess Merk ain’t 
forgotten old times.” 

Hullo, Sam; what are you doing here?” Ra- 
leigh answered, without resentment. 

Oh, I ’ve got a job here in the garage. I ’m do- 
ing fine. Wouldn’t go back and rot in Punchard if 
you ’d give me the whole place. I ’m a New Yorker 
now.” 

Well, Punchard can stand it, if New York can,” 
Billy observed dryly. 

Further reminiscences were interrupted by the 
flood of questions which broke from the other men 
in the group. And the car had hardly been put in 


52 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

its assigned place before a dozen reporters were 
clustered around the two newcomers, and firing a 
broadside of questions at them. 

It was amusing to note the behavior of the differ- 
ent newspaper men. Some were enthusiastic, some 
skeptical, and one, whose breath indicated that he 
was no teetotaler, openly ridiculed the gyrocar. Its 
fittings especially called for comment from him. He 
pointed to a long piece of wood, shaped like a ski, 
only wider. 

I say, there ’re carrying along an extra mud- 
guard,” he cried facetiously. Mighty good idea ! 
There ’ll sure be lots of mud to guard against.” 

“ That is n’t a mud-guard,” Raleigh protested, with 
great earnestness ; “ that ’s a conversation fender.” 

Conversation fender ? ” the reporter repeated, 
mystified. What ’s that ? ” 

Quite innocently Raleigh explained : — 

Oh, we just put it up when the fool remarks 
get too thick around the car.” 

Amid the roar of laughter which this elicited, the 
facetious reporter went over to jot down what Sam 
Peavy had to say. 

For Sam was basking warmly in reflected glory, 
and held a little court of his own, far enough away 
for the hostile growls of Merk not to cast doubt on 
his pretensions. He had known Raleigh and Billy 
all his life ; had been to school with them ; was 
pretty nearly their most intimate friend — according 


THE CAR’S PUBLIC APPEARANCE 53 


to himself. About the actual details of their car he 
preserved a mysterious air of secrecy — for the best 
of reasons ; but before the day was at an end he 
had all but invented the car himself. 

Photographers followed hard on the reporters, 
and our heroes were snap-shotted a dozen times, — 
an attention which made them feel very foolish, — 
and all the afternoon papers had illustrated, front- 
page articles about them and their car. (Sam man- 
aged to creep into the headlines of the facetious 
reporter’s article.) 

Raleigh would have chuckled to see his scheme 
for obtaining free advertising work so well, had 
something not happened before the papers appeared 
which put a very different aspect on this whole ex- 
pedition, up to now as much a lark as anything 
else. 


CHAPTER XII 


THE MAN IN THE FUR OVERCOAT 

Ever since the drivers for the great contest had 
begun to assemble in New York, a tall, bearded man 
in a marvelously fine fur-lined coat had been loiter- 
ing around the official garage. 

He was accepted as an automobile crank, and hu- 
mored as such. His evident wealth, too, may have 
had its share in the kind treatment he received ; for 
professional automobilists are human — and have 
cars to sell. 

He spoke now to this driver, now to that, and al- 
ways in the language of the man he was addressing. 
It made no difference whether they were English, 
Italian, French, or German, he addressed each with 
equal fluency. 

While he was interested in the machines, he paid 
more attention to the drivers themselves ; and some- 
how he always seemed disappointed in the latter. It 
was as if he were seeking something in these hardy 
adventurers which he did not find. 

He was in the group which gathered around the 
gyrocar upon its arrival. He had studied it in silence, 
and then had scanned the face of its driver ; and an 


MAN IN THE FUR OVERCOAT 55 


eager light had come into his own as his glance 
rested on Raleigh Kilbreth’s. Indeed, so earnest and 
steadfast was his gaze that Raleigh was discomposed 
by it. While all the others were crowding around, 
talking and asking questions, he said no word. He 
only loitered near the gyrocar, watched the young 
men put it in its appointed place, in a far corner of 
the garage, and apparently was so deeply interested 
in this curious car that he could not tear himself 
away from it even after all the other spectators had 
gone away. 

I wonder if he can he a manufacturer,’’ thought 
Raleigh, his usual irrepressible hopes springing up 
in his breast. 

It happened that he and the stranger stood alone 
near the car. The latter glanced around to make 
certain they were out of earshot of any one else, 
and then said in a low voice : — 

Would it be possible for you to meet me later 
to-day, if I should send for you ? ” 

Although his attitude was still that of the casual 
spectator, he spoke in tense, earnest tones. 

Why, yes. I can see you here now, — or at the 
hotel.” 

The stranger shook his head. 

No, that cannot be. I must see you privately. 
And will you please say nothing of my speaking to 
you, to any person ? ” 

Except to Billy Hawpe,” Raleigh replied. 


56 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

^^Who is he? — Ah! your friend. Very well, 
only — I must not be seen talking with you.” He 
broke off abruptly, and walked out of the garage. 

Raleigh stared after him in amazement, wonder- 
ing whether the tall man were quite possessed of all 
his wits. The next minute the incident was swept 
from his mind by an avalanche of questions fired at 
him by a hot and belated reporter, who feared lest 
he might lose some detail about the gyrocar which 
his confreres had obtained. 

Nor did Raleigh think of the man in the fur coat 
again until, he and Billy having gone to their room 
in the hotel to wash up for luncheon, there came a 
knock at the door, and, on opening it a small, dark 
man stood on the threshold, hat in hand. 

He bowed politely. 

“ You haf tell my master you would do him the 
honor of meeting him,” he said, with a strong for- 
eign accent. ^^He ask, can you take dinner with him 
at two o’clock. Address is here.” 

He held out a blank envelope, and as Raleigh 
took it, gave another bow and walked swiftly down 
the hall. 

But, I say — ” 

The man was gone, nor had Raleigh known just 
what he wanted to ask him if he had stayed. He 
stood, irresolute, the envelope in his hand. 

What ’s up ? ” Billy asked. 

Why, I suppose it ’s from a chap who spoke to 


MAN IN THE FUR OVERCOAT 57 

me in the garage — that tall man in the f nr-lined 
coat. He asked me if I could meet him somewhere 
— said that he could n’t be seen talking to me — ” 
Better look out ! ” Billy interrupted. You never 
can tell about these foreigners. He may be a Black 
Hand chap.” 

Billy’s ideas concerning foreigners were that they 
were quite a different species of humanity from 
Americans, and to be regarded with due suspicion. 

I may as well see what ’s in this envelope, any- 
way.” 

Raleigh tore it open and found, in typewriting, 
an address on Eleventh Street, and the instruc- 
tions : — 

Ring the bell and give your name. 

If yoar friend Is entirely In yonr 
Gonfldenoe^ I should be very glad to 
have yon bring hlmt too. 

There was no signature. 

In your confidence — well, I like that 1 ” snorted 
Billy. ^^And I guess you don’t go around there 
without me. They might kidnap you and hold you 
for ransom, or — ” 

“ Sell me into slavery in the Barbary States,” 
Raleigh interrupted, laughing. Billy, you ’ve got 
a powerful imagination, once you get out of Pun- 
chard.” 

Nevertheless it was all delightfully mysterious, 


58 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


and after some further discussion they decided to 
accept the invitation ; and with lively anticipations 
they went down at the appointed time to the address 
on Eleventh Street. 


CHAPTER XIII 


AN ASTOUNDING PROPOSITION 

They found the designated number on Eleventh 
Street to be an ordinary, old-fashioned house, like all 
the rest in the block. To Billy’s suspicious eyes, how- 
ever, there was something sinister about its common- 
place exterior, and even Raleigh, it must be confessed, 
mounted its steps and rang the bell with some trepi- 
dation. 

The door was opened by a man in a waiter’s apron. 

I was told to ffive my name. It’s — it ’s Raleigh 
Kilbreth— ” 

Oh, yes,” assented the waiter cheerfully. If 
you will just step upstairs, Mr. Kilbreth.” 

He led the way. They were reassured to see that 
the basement and first floor were used as a quite in- 
nocent public restaurant. The waiter opened the door 
of a private dining-room, and announced : — 

«Mr. Kilbreth!” 

The tall stranger of the garage arose and shook 
hands with his two guests. 

I cannot tell you how glad I am that you accepted 
my very informal invitation,” he said eagerly. ‘^I 
feared — But, never mind. Doubtless you are hungry, 


60 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

as all young fellows ought to be at this time of day. 
Waiter, bring the luncheon at once/’ 

In spite of the cordial greeting of the stranger, 
Billy was somewhat awed during the meal that fol- 
lowed. He did not even know the names of many of 
the dishes of which he partook, though he had no 
fault to find with their quality, and soon forgot to 
wonder if they were drugged. 

The stranger attended to their hunger, hut as their 
appetites abated, he drew them into conversation, 
until, toward the end of the luncheon, both found 
themselves talking with him as if he were an old friend. 
There was a singular charm of high-breeding about 
his manner which quite captivated them, while, with- 
out their knowing it, he was studying them with the 
most minute attention. 

After the table was cleared of all hut fruit and 
some candy, which completed the captivation of Billy, 
a still more eager light shone in the stranger’s eyes. 

And now,” he asked, will you permit me to 
broach the subject on which I wish to speak to you?” 

His guests were instantly as much on the qu% mve 
as he. 

^‘1 was one of those,” he went on, who had the 
privilege of seeing you arrive in your wonderful 
motor-car this morning. May I ask if you feel con- 
vinced that you can make the difficult journey in it? 
Believe me, I do not ask this from idle curiosity.” 

Had the facetious reporter that morning asked the 


AN ASTOUNDING PROPOSITION 61 

same question, Raleigh would have parried it with 
some quip, or with ridicule ; but he could not answer 
their host thus. 

‘‘ I think the car could make the trip,” he replied 
slowly. 

The other was quick to notice the young man’s 
hesitation. 

If it is not an impertinence, may I ask if there 
is any doubt about your going the whole way?” 

Raleigh laughed ruefully, but replied frankly : — 

Why, you see, sir, we are starting in this race in 
order to bring our car to the attention of the manu- 
facturers, hut we have not money enough to get to 
Paris. We shall go as far as our money holds out — 
and then come back.” 

Ah ! ” the tall man exclaimed, and the inform- 
ation seemed rather to please him than otherwise. 

Then, perhaps you may be willing to listen to a 
proposition I have to make to you.” 

He paused, his eyes searching Raleigh’s face ; then 
said slowly : — 

^^If you will take — with absolute secrecy — a par- 
cel from me to a certain person in Siberia, I will pay 
all your expenses from here to Paris.” 


CHAPTER XIV 


YOU BET WE CAN ! ” 

To say that the two young inventors were aston- 
ished by the stranger’s offer gives but a faint idea 
of the state of mind into which it threw them. Their 
wildest conjectures had contained no such possibility 
as this. If he had clapped a pistol to their heads 
and demanded their money or their lives, they — 
or at least Billy — would not have been greatly sur- 
prised. But to make it possible for them to take 
part in the whole of the race, in return for so small 
a service. 

To Raleigh it seemed as if the breed of fairy 
godfathers were not yet extinct. His vivid imagina- 
tion already saw the gyrocar crossing America, mak- 
ing its way through Siberia, tearing over Europe 
— and triumphantly entering Paris before all the 
others. 

The more cautious Billy, after one blinding flash 
of enthusiasm, began to have his doubts. Inexpe- 
rienced as he was, he knew that men did not go 
about the world bestowing such favors on casual 
acquaintances. 

That seems a very little thing to do in return 
for such a large one,” he remarked. 


‘‘YOU BET WE CAN!” 


63 


Raleigh’s face clouded over at Billy’s words. He 
wanted tremendously to take part in the race, but 
he might pay too high a price for it. What could 
be in the package which demanded so much se- 
crecy? Bombs naturally suggested themselves at 
once. 

Like most Americans he sympathized with those 
who were trying to change the present despotic Rus- 
sian Government, yet, when it actually came to taking 
part in a nihilistic movement, which might include 
assassination, it was a different matter. 

don’t think we should care to carry any 
bombs,” he said. 

His voice showed the regret of a man whose high 
hopes are dashed to earth. 

The tall man smiled sadly. 

I am not asking you to take part in an errand 
of destruction, but in an errand of mercy.” 

^^Then, why do you demand this secrecy? Why 
are you willing to pay such an enormous price for 
delivering a parcel in Siberia, when an express com- 
pany would take it for comparatively little ? ” Billy 
demanded. 

No express company goes where I want to send 
my package.” 

The stranger rose from his seat, and paced slowly 
up and down the room. He was deep in thought, 
yet from time to time glanced at Raleigh and Billy, 
as if it were of them he were thinking. At length, 


64 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


Tvith a gesture of decision, he stopped and began 
speaking, rapidly — eagerly. 

“ On the other side of the world from here is a 
desolate little Siberian village. There it is bleak 
winter for eight months of the year. In summer the 
ground only thaws out three or four feet down, and 
hordes of mosquitoes make the days and nights a 
torment. Utter squalor reigns. There are no books, 
no comforts of any kind. The native peasants are 
brutish as animals. There is nothing there that 
makes life worth having.’’ 

He paused. ‘‘To such villages the Russian Gov- 
ernment condemns those whom it fears, to a death- 
in-hfe, until they shall be laid to rest in the frozen 
earth. 0 God ! how slowly the time passes in one 
of those villages ! ” 

He raised his clenched fist, laboring under great 
emotion. In a few seconds he recovered his compo- 
sure and went on. 

“My only daughter has been in exile there for 
two years, — two long years, — with hope ever de- 
ferred, hope ever dying. It is to her I wish to send 
money and a disguise, in order that escape may not 
be so impossible.” 

“ Oh ! ” both his listeners exclaimed, deeply moved 
by the glimpse of desolation these words gave them. 

“I did not know, sir — ” Raleigh stammered. “Of 
course, anything we can do — ” 

As if he did not hear him, the Russian went on : 


‘‘YOU BET WE CAN!’’ 


65 


“ Even then her labor will he only begun. The 
Trans-Siberian Kailway is so closely watched that 
she will have to make her way across the wide con- 
tinent on foot, or in springless telegaSy through a 
country bristling with officials, where any minute 
may see her recapture and her removal to an even 
more remote and desolate village in sub-arctic Sibe- 
ria. Ah ! think 1 If you had a sister, and she had to 
walk alone from San Francisco to New York through 
such a country 1 You may consider me heartless to 
be living here in luxury, while she is there in cap- 
tivity.” He gave a short laugh. I was not always 
here. I, too, was in Siberia — nine hundred miles 
away from my daughter. This separation was part of 
the punishment the Government meted out to me. 
Seven times I have tried to effect her escape. Seven 
times I have failed. Twice I nearly lost my life. 
Now I am powerless to act ; for I am watched con- 
tinually by spies, even here, in America. That is 
why I dared not be seen speaking with you — why 
I asked you to meet me here.” 

Rapidly Raleigh had been thinking, while the 
Russian talked. When the latter paused, he turned 
to his chum : — 

Billy, we can do more than carry a package to 
Siberia ; we can take her with us out of it, can’t 
we?” 

Billy’s grave young face was terribly in earnest. 

You bet we can ! ” he answered. 


CHAPTER XV 


A BANISHED PRINCE 

Into the Russian’s eyes came a great eager light. 
He stretched his arms out to his guests. 

^^You will do that for me?” he cried hoarsely. 

I was not mistaken in you ! But this is more than 
I had hoped for. My thanks — I cannot express 
them.” 

‘‘ Oh, that ’s all right,” Raleigh replied awk- 
wardly. 

Then they fell to planning. 

The very boldness of the attempt may be its 
safety,” the man said. Even Russian officials would 
hardly suspect a contestant in a public race of har- 
boring a political prisoner. One thing, though : as 
you value your very lives, you must not be con- 
nected with me in any way.” 

For a time he sat deep in thought, his brows 
knit, conflicting emotions showing on his face. At 
length he said, as if to himself : — 

^^Is it right to accept this from you? I am a 
father — but I must not forget that you have fathers 
and mothers, too. If you should fail — If you should 
be discovered — what would be your fate?” 


67 


A BANISHED PRINCE 

Raleigh’s jaw set resolutely, as he said : — 

I don’t think my father — or my mother either 

— would think much of me if I held back just be- 
cause of myself.” 

Billy gave an approving grunt. 

The Russian’s gratitude shone from his counte- 
nance. 

Yes, I was right about you,” he repeated. This 
race came as a God-sent opportunity. I have spent 
days studying the different drivers. Bravery — re- 
sourcefulness — they all possessed. I looked for 
more — for that quality which makes men willing 
to run great risks for the sake of an ideal. Tizaine, 
the Frenchman, had it in a measure, though his 
character was too volatile. He would do grandly 
for a few days ; but I know what tenacity Siberia 
demands in one who would conquer her. 

I should have had to trust him, however, had 
you two not come. You ” — with a graceful incli- 
nation of his head he indicated Billy — ^^are less of 
an idealist, yet you never give up a resolve once 
you have formed it. You ” — he addressed Raleigh 

— are a dreamer, a poet.” 

I never wrote a line of poetry in my life,” ex- 
claimed Raleigh from his honest soul. 

Was it not you who conceived your car? ” 

«Yes.” 

And you,” turning to Billy, whose clever hands 
executed this conception?” 


68 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


Yes, sir, I worked on it,” Billy answered in a 
matter-of-fact way. 

‘^It is as I thought. I am a judge of men. It 
matters not that a poet dreams in machinery. What 
is this wonderful car but a poem on wheels?” 

There was a pause, not without embarrassment 
for the Americans. They did not know how to reply 
to such language. . 

The Russian continued: — 

Since we have thus strangely become asso- 
ciated, it is but fair that you should know more 
about me and of the causes which led to my banish- 
ment, and to that of my daughter. This can be no 
affair of business between us : we must be friends.” 

From his breast-pocket he drew a golden case, 
opened it, and handed a card to each of his guests. 
It bore the name 


Prince Anastasief 


Hotel Baronia 


A BANISHED PRINCE 


69 


I happen to have been born among the rich and 
fortunate/’ he went on ; ^^but with a desire to make 
the lot of those dependent on me somewhat better. 
You are young yet, and you live in a country where 
there is a chance for every man — if he is man 
enough to take it. It is not so in Russia. There the 
souls of the poor are starved and trampled upon so 
that the rich may feast the better.” 

The Russian stared afar off, again seeing in his 
mind’s eye the poor peasants and their misery in 
his own country. 

‘^I knew that my efforts could not accomplish 
much ; but all of us patriots feel that the Httle done 
to-day will become the father of more in the future. 
It is a monster force against which we work — we 
know that. But,” he shrugged his shoulders, we 
do what we can. Russia may appear beyond redemp- 
tion, and the efforts of those who lose both their 
fortunes and their lives may seem futile : it is not 
so, however. As there is a God above, it cannot 
be so. 

The Government does not wish the peasants to 
lose their ignorance and superstition. Where would 
absolutism be if the people were enlightened? Those 
who try to uplift them are looked upon as enemies 
of this Government. I knew that beforehand, and I 
also knew what the consequences might be, were I 
to be discovered. I did not underestimate the value 
of money, as do so many of us, and transferred all 


70 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


the great wealth my father had left me into foreign 
banks, and beyond the power of an unscrupulous 
bureaucracy. The land alone I could not move : that 
had to remain in my unhappy country. 

For years I was able to carry on my work suc- 
cessfully. Then I came against the monster force 
which has crushed so many others. I was arrested 
and banished to Siberia. My wife and daughter were 
separated from me and sent to different places there. 
My wife died on the way. . . . 

You may wonder that I was willing to expose 
my wife to such a danger, but she and I were united 
in this desire to help our peasants ; and in spite of 
what we knew, we could not really believe that the 
Government would consider our efforts criminal.” 

The Prince made a manifest effort to banish from 
his mind the thought of the woman he had loved, 
and whom he was to see no more. He forced himself 
to think only of present needs. 

I will not weary you with more details,” he said. 
“ The afternoon is passing, and there is much for 
me to do.” 


CHAPTER XVI 


IN THE HOTEL LOBBY 

I NOTICED your equipment in the garage/’ the 
Prince went on. You have done much for your 
car, little for yourselves — and Siberia is no lenient 
adversary. You would freeze to death dressed as you 
were this morning. You will need fur coat, fur caps, 
fur mittens, and boots. — Do you shoot ? ” he broke 
off suddenly. 

Raleigh is the best shot in Punchard,” Billy put 
in, ^^and I’m not so bad.” 

That’s excellent! Your lives may depend on 
your skill, if it be a hard winter. There are many 
wolves there. You must have the best — what do 
you call them ? — ‘ shooting-irons.’ ” 

But — ” began Raleigh. 

The Prince held up a hand. 

If your ^ but ’ refers to expenses, you are to spare 
none. Nothing that money can provide shall be lack- 
ing. That ’s my part of the expedition. I cannot go 
with you, — I cannot share your perils, — but at least 
I can see that you have all that is necessary. We 
must not meet again — it would be too dangerous. 
My agents will look after you. To begin with, call 


72 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

to-morrow afternoon at Shipman & Sons, on Broad- 
way, and ask for Mr. Digweed. He will have his 
instructions to outfit you properly. — And now, 
good-bye ! The blessings and hopes of a father will 
follow you step by step.” 

He kissed the young men on both cheeks, in Rus- 
sian fashion, to their great embarrassment. 

When Raleigh and Billy again found themselves 
on the street it was late in the afternoon. The time 
had flown wonderfully fast while they had passed 
beyond the every-day world of machinery and the 
United States into a mediseval realm of romance and 
Russia. Of a sudden they had plunged into things 
they had read of, but had hardly believed to exist 
outside of books. 

Raleigh threw back his shoulders and drew in a 
long breath of the clean November air. 

Makes a fellow glad he is born in free America, 
does n’t it ? ” he exclaimed. 

They took a turn around Washington Square, and 
then started up Fifth Avenue. At Fourteenth Street, 
Billy said, in an awed tone : — 

Say, Raleigh, we ’re actually going through the 
race.” 

We ’re going to do a heap more than that. W e ’re 
going to rescue a girl from a despicable tyranny which 
does n’t hesitate to condemn some of the noblest of 
its citizens to lifelong misery and an early grave. 


IN THE HOTEL LOBBY 


73 


I — I — ” He shook his fist in the air, and broke 
into an apologetic laugh. I know I ’m talking like 
a Fourth of July orator — but I feel that way.’’ 

^^So do I/’ said Billy soberly; feel like two of 
them.’’ 

After supper that night they were sitting in the 
lobby, talking over the events of the day, and watch- 
ing the people who continually passed before them. 

Raleigh’s long legs were sprawled out in front 
of him. A short, thick-set man with a blond mus- 
tache stumbled over them. He turned in the most 
apologetic way. 

I beg of you to pardon me,” he said, with a Ger- 
man accent. It vas most stupid of me. I hope I 
did not injure your feet.” 

^^Not at all,” Raleigh reassured him. ^‘1 oughtn’t 
to have been taking up so much room.” 

It vas not your fault. Only my nearness of eye- 
sight haf I to give as an excuse. Good-even — But 
are you not ” — he glanced down at a newspaper in 
his hand — are you not der celebrated young man 
who haf invented der car mit only two veels ? ” 

He pointed to a picture in the newspaper he was 
carrying. 

Both young men leaned eagerly forward to see 
the paper. It contained a two-column notice of them 
and their car, with photographs of all three. The 
picture of Raleigh was such a poor likeness that one 
would not have thought a stranger could recognize 


f 


74 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR^ 

him from it; but this did not occur to them at the 
time. 

Here was fame coming upon them, indeed. They 
had been so much taken up with Prince Anastasief 
that they had forgotten all about the newspapers. 

The first time a person sees his name — and es- 
pecially his picture — in the papers, is a moment of 
sweetness not often duplicated. 

^^You haf not seen the other papers — no?” 
their new acquaintance asked, beaming with friend- 
liness. I haf them all here.” 

He pulled up a chair, and produced a sheaf of 
newspapers from his pocket. 

“ I declare, Billy, we ’re getting the advertising 
we wanted,” Raleigh remarked, delighted, as they 
looked over the papers. 

Adfertising? You are adfertising for some pig 
gompany, perhaps — yes ? ” the stranger asked. 

^^No. There is no big firm behind us. We made 
the car ourselves.” 

‘‘ Ach ! it is wunderhar I Two yong vellers like 
you made that car ! Dat is truly America for you. 
And then you go into this race just for the fun, as 
you say? In Shermany yong mans do not haf so 
much money to shpend. You are millionaires — 
yes?” 

^^No, we haven’t — that is, it isn’t we — er — ” 

Raleigh stopped lamely. 

Perhaps you haf some rich friend — some old 


75 


IN THE HOTEL LOBBY 

gentleman, who vishes to encourage experiment- 
ation — yes? ” 

“ Perhaps ! ” Billy acquiesced dryly. 

The non-committal reply relieved Raleigh of his 
embarrassment. It recalled to his outspoken nature 
that, after all, this was no affair of the stranger’s. To 
the latter, too, it may have indicated that his ques- 
tioning was being carried to impertinent lengths ; 
for he at once turned to other phases of the sub- 
ject. What a general interest the great race had 
roused in all civilized countries, even in those repre- 
sented by neither car nor driver. 

While the German was talking on, Billy had been 
regarding him with a humorous uptwist of the cor- 
ners of his mouth. In spite of his genial manner, 
the man had a singularly expressionless counte- 
nance. It was as if the muscles of his round, flat face 
had lost the power of reflecting the feeling within. 
His eyes, also, of a muddy, gray-green, had the look 
as if his real self were hidden from observation by 
smoked glasses. 

Without appearing the least observant, he noted 
everything. He had marked Raleigh’s embarrass- 
ment when asked who was financing their expedi- 
tion. When Billy had put in his laconic Perhaps ! ” 
his glance shifted to the latter for an instant, and 
the quizzical expression in Billy’s eyes might almost 
seem to have disconcerted him in an infinitesimal 
degree. But he betrayed nothing by his manner. 


76 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

Affably he continued to talk of the race and the 
interest it was exciting. 

Take Russia, for example,” he remarked ; she 
does not manufacture cars, and she has no drivers 
competing. Yet efery day there is a Russian coming 
to the garage. It seems he cannot haf enough of 
the cars. Perhaps you haf noticed him there ? He 
is a tall, handsome man, with a full beard.” 

^^Yes, we noticed him,” Raleigh replied. 

^^He could tell you much about trafeling in Rus- 
sia — and Siberia.” His beady eyes fixed themselves 
in sudden intentness on Raleigh’s face. But per- 
haps you haf already spoken mit him ? ” he ended 
suavely. 

We have hardly had time to make many friends 
here,” Billy observed. 

^^Ach! it is a bitty. So much knowledge he 
could gif you.” 

He rose to his feet, and held out his hand. 

I may see you again. I haf much interest in dis 
magnificent contest. If one of our Djerman cars 
cannot be the vinner, I hope you vill be the fortu- 
nate ones.” 

They watched his short square figure till it passed 
through the revolving door of the hotel. 

He ’s a queer duck,” Raleigh commented. 

‘^I’ll bet he’s a Russian spy,” Billy answered 
with conviction. 

Nonsense! Your contact with foreign princes 


IN THE HOTEL LOBBY 


77 


has gone to your head, old man. You will be seeing 
plots and counter-plots in everything we come across, 
till this wears off. That was just a stray Dutchman, 
who ’s seen our pictures in the papers, and took an 
interest in us.” 

Unconvinced, Billy shook his head, but did not 
argue any further. 

Let ’s take Merk out for a walk,” he suggested. 

They went down for the collie, who was languish- 
ing dolefully in the cellar of the hotel, and wonder- 
ing what manner of adventure this was which began 
by putting him in prison, while his master went off 
gayly about his business. 

When they returned from their walk, and were 
just getting into bed, Billy suddenly said : — 

Raleigh — if we see that German again, I’d be 
mighty careful what I said to him.” 

The other boy laughed. The Prince was right 
in his diagnosis of you, Billy. When you get an 
idea into your head it stays there. What ’s the mat- 
ter with that poor German ? ” 

^^Oh, nothing — only he’s too smooth.” 


CHAPTER XVII 


AN IMPROMPTU CHRISTENING 

The forenoon of the next day — the day before 
the start — was filled with a hurly-burly of men and 
motors. They, like all the other drivers, seemed un- 
able to go over their car often enough, though they 
could find nothing whatever to alter or improve. 
They did not take out the car, but started up the 
motor, which set the gyroscope to humming again, 
and rendered the props at its side useless. 

This morning the gyrocar was comparatively un- 
noticed, in its dark corner of the garage. The fickle 
public was temporarily more interested in the Leo- 
pold Amphihian, which had promised to give an 
exhibition of its powers on the Central Park pond; 
and in the huge lAehig, whose one hundred and 
twenty horse-power, it was prophesied, would force 
it through anything. 

Each of the cars, besides its two drivers, was to 
carry an official correspondent and checker, who was 
to make certain that the automobile was not surrep- 
titiously boosted on a freight car, during any part 
of its journey, and helped along in this primitive 
manner. 


AN IMPROMPTU CHRISTENING 79 

The correspondent assigned to our friends was a 
tall lean man, with long lank hair, named Blythe. 

Is that the car I ’m to go in ? ” he exclaimed, 
when he caught sight of it. Why, for heaven’s 
sake, what ’s to keep it up ! Yes, I ’ve read about it, 
and I see that it balances now, but just wait till I 
try to get into it.” 

Very gingerly he placed one foot on the step, 
and gradually rested his weight on it. 

^^H’m! Doesn’t seem to turn over, does it; but 
that ’s probably because I don’t weigh much more 
than the suit of clothes I ’m in. Aha ! I ’ve got the 
idea ! ” 

He hurried off, and came back with a crowbar. 

^^Now, just see me turn her upside down. We’ll 
expose this thing in about three jerks of a lamb’s 
tail.” 

An amused and interested group watched his ef- 
forts to pry over the car. He found he could push 
it sideways along the floor, but with the motor 
keeping the gyroscope running he was unable to 
disturb its equilibrium. 

Finally Blythe became convinced that his efforts 
were futile. 

I never did know anything about machinery,” 
he admitted, ^Hhough’- I know a littfe bit about 
most everything else.” 

In this last statement Blythe was certainly not 
exaggerating. He had been many different things 


80 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

in his life. As a boy he had run away to sea, and 
then deserted his ship in time to take part in the 
Jameson Raid in South Africa. Working his way 
hack to America before the mast, he had been smit- 
ten with the gold fever, and had spent two years 
in Alaska. He knew a few words in half a dozen 
languages, from Indian to Russian, and wielded so 
ready a pen that his services were always in demand 
among the newspapers. 

But whatever his temporary calling might happen 
to be, he had a faculty for poking his nose into any 
adventure or danger in his vicinity. From these he 
somehow always managed to escape unscathed. Per- 
haps it was his sad and lugubrious air which made 
men loath to harm him. 

The great mortification of his life was that edit- 
ors were always calling on him to edit humorous 
columns in their papers. By preference he wrote 
sad, sweet poetry, — odes and things, — but he 
could never get any one to publish them. He had a 
firm belief that there was what he called a literary 
trust’’ which controlled the magazines, and into 
which an outsider could not gain admission. 

His melancholy manner never left him except 
when dangers became very thick about him — dan- 
gers which he was always prognosticating. Then in 
the pleasure of finding his croakings coming true, his 
own spirits would soar and he would become cheer- 
ful. In the darkest hours he quite deserved his name. 


AN IMPROMPTU CHRISTENING 81 


While Blythe was still trying to discover some 
weak point in the gyrocar, an ofl&cial came bustling 
up to Raleigh in a great state of excitement, and 
pulled out a notebook. 

say, young man, what is the name of your 
car ? Forgot to ask you yesterday. Got to have its 
name, you know. Why did n’t you mention it be- 
fore? Ought to have sent it in with your entry. 
Quite irregular.” 

He spoke explosively, like a motor-car whose igni- 
tion is not working properly. 

Its name?” Raleigh repeated slowly. ^^Why, 
really — that is to say, we had n’t — ” 

Billy nudged him. What ’s the matter with 
Phoenix Bird f ” he suggested in an undertone. 

Ahem ! ” Raleigh coughed, then turned to the 
official. 

The Phoenix Bird is what we are going to call 
it.” 

Well, she’s a bird all right,” the official replied, 
as he jotted down the name. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


THE CONVERSION OF RALEIGH 

The day had come to a close, and again Raleigh 
and Billy were resting in the comfortable armchairs 
of the hotel lobby. The afternoon had been spent 
with Mr. Digweed, who had turned out to be, not a 
salesman of Shipman & Son, but a gentleman await- 
ing them there. He appeared to know exactly what 
was required for such a journey as theirs. He had 
smothered them in furs that felt as hot as a fur- 
nace, and had bought various other articles which 
he deemed necessary. 

When through with Shipman & Son, he had 
taken them in a carriage to a first-class gun-shop, 
and put two of the finest magazine rifles and auto- 
matic pistols — such as would make the mouth of 
any young fellow water — into their hands. Keenly 
he watched them handle them. The pistols were of 
a kind neither of them had seen before, but a few 
minutes sufficed to make them feel quite at home 
with them. 

I guess you two know how to manage firearms,’^ 
Digweed remarked, satisfied. 

In all the afternoon’s expedition, the question of 
price interested their guide not at all. He only in- 


THE CONVERSION OF RALEIGH 83 


sisted on the very best of everything. It was such 
shopping as the boys had never dreamed of — like 
stepping into fairyland and ordering whatever they 
wished. And now, in their armchairs, they were liv- 
ing over that wonderful shopping, when a familiar 
voice exclaimed : — 

Ah ! goot-ef ening ! ” 

There was no mistaking the accent. The German 
of the blond mustache stood before them, holding 
out an enthusiastic hand. He drew up a chair. 

“ I haf not been to der garage to-day, but I haf 
hoped you vould be here to-night. All retty for der 
race — yes ? ” 

All ready ! ” Raleigh replied cordially. 

It was pleasant to see a face one knew even slightly 
in this cityful of strangers. 

^^And you are prepared to discover your vay 
arount de big vo rid?” he asked affably. Dat seems 
to me such a difficulty.” 

We found our way up from Punchard to New 
York,” Raleigh replied solemnly. guess a little 
place like Paris can’t get away from us.” 

Ach 1 The enthusiasm of youth,” the German 
exclaimed. But it vill be many tousand miles be- 
fore you can ask : ‘ Vich road is to Paris?’ ” 

He laughed heartily at his own humor, and then 
continued casually: — 

You asked off the tall Russian how better it is 
to go across Siberia ? ” 


84 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


we haven’t seen him to-day.” 

The other seemed a trifle disappointed at the an- 
swer. After a slight pause he added with an air of 
mystery : — 

Something about him I vill tell you. He is a 
revolutionist — an escaped convict.” 

Raleigh sat upright in the greatest amazement. 

You don’t mean that ? ” he cried. 

“ Indeed, yes ! ” The man lowered his voice. He 
is an Anarchist ! He vould upset the Government, 
bring apout ruin und civil war ! ” 

Gosh ! — Say, Billy, what an awful man ! He 
might have put tacks in our tires ! ” 

Billy buried his face in his handkerchief, and blew 
a loud blast, to keep from laughing. 

Oh, no,” the German hastened to reassure them. 

He vould not put tacks in your tires. It is to the 
Russian Government he is malicious.” 

Malicious, is he ? H’m ! A desperate character 
— the kind you read about in books.” 

The German was plainly pleased at the tone of 
the conversation. He bent forward and confidentially 
added: ^^He is a dangerous man. Ve haf been 
trying to get evidence against him for some time, 
and—” 

But if he is such a person, I should think it 
would be quite easy to get evidence against him,” 
Billy remarked innocently. 

^^Ach! you do not comprehend,” the German 


THE CONVERSION OF RALEIGH 85 


answered eagerly. It is a difference of laws here. 
But,” he added significantly,^^ I can tell you that the 
Russian Government vould pay veil for anything 
showing actual criminal activity on his part.” 

Then you have no proof of actual criminal activ- 
ity on his part ? ” Raleigh asked. 

The German was a trifle taken aback. 

No-n-o — dat is, I vould say, it is de difference 
of laws. He has made much trouble on his estates 
among the peasants.” 

^Hs that so? How did he do it?” 

^^By putting vicked ideas into their heads.” 

And so you ’d pay well for something which 
would enable you to get hold of him and extradite 
him, so that you could punish him for putting wicked 
ideas into peasants’ heads?” 

Dat is it exactly 1 ” 

Raleigh mused awhile on these words ; then turned 
to his chum : — 

Billy, what do you say to quitting this race, and 
going sleuthing after this dangerous character? 
There ’s money in it. You might make quite a rep, 
— who can tell? ^ Billy, the Bloodhound of Pun- 
chard!’” 

The other could contain himself no longer, and 
burst into laughter. 

The German stared, and at length realized that 
Raleigh was making fun of him. His little mud- 
colored eyes flashed as he jumped to his feet. 


86 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


You are treating mit contempt my voxds. If ve 
vere in Europe you vould haf to answer to me, but 
here in this verjiuchte country — bah !” 

He snapped his fingers, and, whirling about on 
his heels, walked rapidly away. 

^^I guess you are converted to the spy theory, 
now,” Billy observed. But don’t you think it is 
risky to get a chap like that down on you ? ” 

You would n’t have me be polite to him, would 
you ? It was all I could do to keep from telling him 
what I thought of him and his job.” 

Before Billy had time to say anything more^ a 
page came through the lobby, calling loudly : — 
Kilhreth ! Mr. Kilbreih!^^ 

Raleigh sprang to his feet. 

Two large packages for you, sir, by special mes- 
senger. He won’t leave them, sir, without your 
receipt for them.” 


CHAPTER XIX 


BILLY ACTS 

Billy Hawpe was by nature of a less enthusiastic 
temperament than his chum. Of the things which 
Raleigh saw in his mind’s eye as finished products, 
Billy always saw the difficulties to be overcome. 
But even he could not restrain his exuberance when 
they opened the two huge packages, in their own 
room, and disclosed the treasures they contained — 
treasures which were now their very own. 

Say, Billy, when we get bach to Punchard in 
these fur coats they ’ll think we discovered a gold- 
mine on our way, won’t they?” Raleigh shouted. 

Billy paid no heed to him. He was already lovingly 
fingering the firearms, whose well-oiled parts slipped 
over each other with the satisfactory smoothness of 
perfect fitting steel on steel. 

At last he looked up solemnly at Raleigh. 

I feel like going out and shooting up the town,” 
he said soberly. 

But after the first ecstatic half-hour, he put down 
the firearms, with an air of determination. 

^‘I’m going to take Merk out for a walk,” he 
said. 


88 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

Raleigh looked at their new possessions with re- 
gret. 

hate to leave all these/’ he answered. ^^It 
does n’t seem as if they would be here when we came 
back, if I did n’t keep an eye on them.” 

Well, you stay here,” Billy assented eagerly. 

I shan’t be gone long.” 

« All right!” 

Billy made his way down into the bowels of the 
hotel, where Merk welcomed him with frantic joy. 
The dog was so crazy at being freed, especially when 
he got outdoors again, that he would assuredly have 
run beneath the wheels of one of the many automo- 
biles in the street had he not been unusually well- 
trained. 

When Raleigh was present, he looked to him for 
orders; in his absence, he would obey Billy. To 
the voice of any one else he turned a deaf ear. Now 
Billy had to speak to him sharply before he would 
come to heel. 

Of the first policeman they met Billy made an 
inquiry, and then proceeded uptown at a quick pace. 
He had not the air of one merely going out for a 
walk. There was purposefulness in his manner, and 
once or twice he repeated a street and a number to 
himself. 

At Fifty-sixth Street, he turned to the right, and 
presently came to the place he was seeking. 

It was a very quiet hotel of elegant unostentation. 


BILLY ACTS 


89 


such as few of the casual visitors to New York know 
of. The blacksmith’s son was abashed at the thought 
of entering, especially with a dog at his heels. But 
summoning his courage he passed the flunkey at the 
door, who looked at him very sharply, and seemed 
half-inclined to stop him. 

Billy walked sturdily up to the clerk at the office 
desk and asked : — 

Is Prince Anastasief in ? ” 

Again he met a suspicious stare, and Merk rumbled 
a low growl, as if resenting such treatment. 

If you ’ve got anything for him, I can have it 
sent up,” the clerk said. 

No, I wish to see him.” 

Have you a card ? ” the clerk asked. 

Poor Billy blushed. He had never had a card in 
his life. 

Somewhat relenting, the clerk shoved a blank 
card and pen toward him, and Billy wrote his name 
on it : — never so awkwardly before. 

To the manifest astonishment of the hotel clerk, 
the answer returned immediately from the Prince, 
asking Mr. Hawpe to come up to his rooms. 

Blushing again, but this time with pride, Mr. 
Hawpe stepped into the elevator, Merk close beside 
him with ears cocked forward, very suspicious of the 
whole proceeding. 

The Prince himself opened the door in answer to 
the bell-boy's knock. A look of anxiety was* in his 


90 TWO BOYS IN GYROCAR 


dark eyes, but his instinct as host triumphed over his 
desire to learn what had brought Billy to him. He wel- 
comed him in, detaining the bell-boy with a gesture. 

You will permit me to order you a little refresh- 
ment?’’ he asked. 

No, I thank you,” Billy replied. I only came 
to see you for a few minutes — on business.” 

The bell-boy disappeared, and Billy, after one 
glance around the apartment, — such a one as he had 
never seen before, — at once broached the subject 
that had brought him. 

Prince Anastasief, you said yesterday that you 
were shadowed by agents of the Russian Government 
even here in America, didn’t you?” 

Yes, to a certain extent. Fortunately they can 
do me, personally, little harm. In preventing me 
from rendering aid to others, they have hitherto 
been more successful.” 

Do you know any of them by sight ? ” 

^‘The agents of the secret police? Yes, I believe 
I know them all. We revolutionists have lately 
turned the tables on them and begun to study them 
with as much care as they have long expended on us.” 

Is there a stocky, flat-faced one, with a blond 
mustache?” 

The Prince’s eyes began to sparkle. 

‘^Who speaks with a German accent?” he ex- 
claimed. 

Yes. With mud-colored eyes — ” 


BILLY ACTS 91 

And little expression in his face, and yet who 
can have very agreeable manners?’’ 
guess that’s the man.” 

My friend, I did not think you had such powers 
of observation — and of deduction. That is Kotzalki, 
half German, half renegade Pole, and wholly dan- 
gerous. How did you come to know him?” 

He stumbled over Raleigh’s feet, in the lobby 
of the hotel, and then got to talking with us.” 

^^But what made you suspect him?” 

W ell,” — Billy could give no better reason than 
that he had given his chum, — he was too smooth.” 

^Smooth?’” the Prince repeated in a puzzled 
tone. ‘^Ah! I understand. You mean too suave, 
too plausible. Wonderful that you should have seen 
through him so quickly! You would make a fine 
detective, with such natural as you possess.” 

Billy had no idea what flair meant, but he felt 
very much flattered. To hide his gratification, he 
hurried on. 

I want to know what he might try to do to us.” 

At the question, the Prince pursed up his lips re- 
flectively. 

^Hf he has any suspicion of what you are going 
to do for me, he will try to prevent your ever getting 
to Siberia. If, in spite of him, you succeed in reach- 
ing there, he will be like a hawk on your trail, watch- 
ing you every instant, and hindering you at every 
step.” 


92 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


Then we ’re stacking up against the other twelve 
cars and the secret police of Russia besides,” Billy 
remarked thoughtfully. 

V ery likely. But you did not tell him that you 
knew me, did you?” 

No, though I think he suspects it. I suppose 
he ’s pretty good at suspecting.” 

The Prince stroked his beard, ruminating ; and 
when he spoke again, it was with profound solem- 
nity. 

I will not conceal from you that what you have 
told me makes me fear that this undertaking is even 
more difficult than I had thought. Kotzalki has not 
bothered me for some months — I hoped they had 
found him more useful at home. But now — If you 
wish to withdraw from this undertaking, I do not 
feel that I should urge you to stay in it. Will you 
consult with your friend and let me know your 
decision by telephone? That is the safest means of 
communication.” 

don’t need to consult Raleigh,” Billy answered 
grimly. I know what he ’d say — if we consulted 
a week : we ’ll go ahead if we meet a Kotzalki at 
every cross-road.” 


CHAPTER XX 


MERK ON GUARD 

After Billy left the Prince’s hotel, a vague pre- 
monition of evil settled down upon him. He did not 
regret the reply he had made the Prince, and he 
knew Raleigh would have given the same; yet now, 
plodding down Fifth Avenue, — twice its usual 
width, in its semi-desertion at night, — with the 
immense, oppressive city around him, the gravity of 
their undertaking weighed heavily upon him. He 
had made light of encountering a Kotzalki at every 
cross-road; but what would these boastfid words 
avail against the forces confronting two inexpe- 
rienced young fellows? 

However, I don’t expect we shall be inexperi- 
enced long,” he thought ruefully. 

Merk, as if he understood all that had passed, 
kept close to Billy and regarded every passer-by with 
open suspicion. 

I believe I ’ll just drop around and take a look 
at the car,” Billy decided, hoping to allay the 
uneasiness which he could not dismiss from his 
mind. 

Quickly he walked the half-mile to the garage. 


94 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

nodded to the man at the door, who recognized him, 
and made his way to their car, standing in a dark 
corner of the huge room. It was kept upright by 
the folding legs at its side, the gyroscope having 
long ceased to revolve — though its own momentum 
had kept it going for nearly four hours after the 
motor stopped. 

A thrill of pride shot through him, as he contem- 
plated the car. What a wonderful fellow Raleigh 
was to conceive such a machine — overcoming one 
difficulty after another, as fast as they arose. Modest 
Billy did not give a thought to his own share, to his 
skill of hand and brain, which enabled Raleigh to 
outhne to him an idea with entire confidence that it 
would be worked out in the right manner. 

It was a rare friendship between the two, and 
contained no trace of jealousy. 

“ Raleigh never suspects any one — unless they Ve 
done something to him,’^ Billy mused on. “ But I 
do, and if anything should happen to this car, I ’d 
never forgive myself.” 

Yet what could happen to it, safely housed in the 
official garage, with a watchman always on hand, 
and the start of the race next day. 

Billy turned away, feeling that he had been fool- 
ishly over-anxious, and walked back toward the en- 
trance. 

There was a little office on one side, and from it 
came the murmur of voices. A familiar tone — then 


95 


MERE ON GUARD 

an accent he had heard not many hours ago, struck 
his ears, and he stopped. 

Merk, ears pricked forward, began to growl. Billy 
dropped to one knee, and put his arm around the 
collie’s neck. 

Quiet, sir ! ” he commanded sternly. 

Holding his own breath, and half-strangling Merk, 
Billy stood tensely, listening. He could not make 
out the words, yet there was no possibility of doubt 
about the speakers : Sam Peavy and the moon-faced 
Kotzalki were in low-toned consultation. 

Stealthily Billy withdrew and tiptoed his way back 
to the car, his hand always on Merk’s collar. 

Merk, jump in here ! ” 

Obediently the collie sprang into the front seat. 

^^Now, lie down, sir, and watch it! Gkiard it!^^ 

Merk wagged his tail. It was far from being the 
first time he had performed this duty, and, looking 
up at Billy with his intelligent brown eyes, he as 
much as said: ^^Now you can stop worrying. I’ll 
look after this.” 

Billy again turned toward the office; but now, 
instead of walking quietly, he blundered along with 
considerable noise, and presently began to whistle in 
a cheerfully tuneless way. 

Sam was at the door of the office awaiting him. 

Hullo, Billy,” he said, with an exaggerated 
friendly manner ; that ’s a bully car you ’ve got.” 

Why, hullo, Sam ! I was just taking a look at 


96 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

it, to see it was all right for the night,” Billy re- 
plied with equal friendliness. 

Aw ! you need n’t have bothered about that. 
There ’s always a man here to see after everything.” 

^‘Is that so? Your trick to-night, I suppose.” 

‘‘I know what you’re thinking of. Bill,” Sam 
said, with some confusion. ‘‘ But, honest ! that was n’t 
me. I never had a hand in trying to wreck your car. 
In fact, I always did like you two fellers, and I tried 
to make Ev Tompkins and Bummy and the rest of 
the fellers in my gang leave you alone.” 

Is that so ? ” Billy answered innocently. Then, 
Sam, I owe you an apology. I always thought you 
were the ringleader.” 

He held out his hand, and the big flabby paw of 
Sam lay limply in it for a second. 

Aw ! that ’s all right,” Sam assured him 
awkwardly. 

After a pause he asked with extreme careless- 
ness : — 

Where ’s Merk ? ” 

Oh, I ’ve put him to bed,” Billy answered, with 
even greater carelessness. They make us keep him 
down in the cellar, at the hotel. They won’t let us 
have him in our room. No need of his keeping watch 
here, eh, Sam, with Ev and Bummy Gilbert safe in 
Punchard ? ” 

Sure thing ! ” Sam assented. 

He was delighted. Never since the bullying of 


MERE ON GUARD 


97 


Billy, which Raleigh had put an end to, had he 
been on such friendly terms with either of the 
chums. 

Well, good-night, Sam. Gosh ! but I ’m sleepy.” 

Billy stretched his arms above his head, and 
yawned widely. 

Good-night, Billy.” 

Breaking again into cheerful whistling, Billy went 
away. 

Sam looked after him till he was out of sight. 

Say, but you ’re easy ! ” he remarked contempt- 
uously. You belong among the Rubes — you don’t 
belong in New York.” 


CHAPTER XXI 


THE ERUPTION OF SAM 

Very early the next morning, while yet the long 
winter night was reluctant to give way to the day, 
Raleigh awoke. For a few minutes he lay quietly 
in bed, then got up and began dressing, without 
awakening his chum. 

Billy had come home so late the night before that 
he had found Raleigh already in bed and asleep, so 
he had had no chance to tell Raleigh of his conversa- 
tion with the Prince and of his visit to the garage. 

The uneasiness which Billy had felt last night 
seemed this morning transferred to his friend. Ra- 
leigh put on his clothes as quickly as he could, and, 
leaving Billy still sleeping, hurried off to the garage. 
For so long he had lived in nightly dread of some- 
thing happening to the car that the instinct was still 
stronger than the reasoning which told him that 
here it was safe. 

He arrived at the garage at the same time with 
one of the attendants, who grumbled sleepily at 
finding the door locked. 

That Sam Peavy never was no good,” he growled 
to Raleigh, as he let himself in with his own key. 


THE ERUPTION OF SAM 99 

He ’d ought to have the place all cleaned up for 
me, and look at it ! I ’ll bet he ’s been asleep all 
night and never did a lick of work. Bet he ’s asleep 
yet. Sam ! Oh, Sam ! ” 

From far in the interior of the building came a 
faint gurgling sound, which ceased at once. 

There ! you heard him snore, did n’t you ? ” 
the man complained. Oh, Sam — you lazy mut ! ” 

This time only silence in reply, and, still sleepily 
grumbling, the attendant set about cleaning out the 
office. 

Raleigh went straight to his car. As he reached 
its dark corner, he started back at a strange gurgling 
sound almost beneath his feet. 

His heart beating wildly, he stooped down and 
saw the body of a man, and over it a dog, his teeth 
apparently buried in the man’s throat. 

For an instant Raleigh was frozen rigid with hor- 
ror. Nor was it lessened when, his dilated eyes be- 
coming more accustomed to the gloom, he recog- 
nized his own collie. 

Merk ! ” he screamed, and sprang toward him, 
thinking the dog had gone mad and murdered a man. 

He gave him a violent kick in the ribs, which 
threw him six feet away, and stooped to lift the 
figure, calling to the attendant for help. 

The figure moaned, only half-conscious. 

Bring some water ! ” Raleigh shouted. I ’m 
afraid my dog has killed some one.” 


100 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

The sleepy attendant, who had been slow to re- 
spond at first, now came running up with a bucket 
of water and a mop, with which he had been swab- 
bing up the floor. He turned the switch which 
flooded this corner of the room with light. 

Why, it ’s Sam ! ” he cried. He ’s dead ! ” And 
frightened out of his wits, he began swabbing Sam’s 
face with the mop. 

Sam scrambled to his feet, sputtering oaths 
through the dirty water which filled his mouth. He 
had really been more scared than hurt. Merk’s 
sharp teeth had not even broken his skin, though 
they had encircled his neck in a terrifying man- 
ner. 

When he found himself on his feet again, safe 
and sound, he spluttered and gurgled and hissed, 
like a red-hot flatiron in a bucket of water. 

I ’ll have you arrested — both of yous ! ” he bel- 
lowed. You, Mike, what did you mean by stuffing 
that mop in my mouth? You did it a-purpose.” 
Then turning furiously on Raleigh, he roared: 

You ’ZZ get to Paris — I guess not ! You ’ll be in 
jail, that ’s where you ’ll be. The cop on this beat ’s 
a friend of mine. I ’ll have you pinched. Oh ! just 
wait.” 

Sam was fairly dancing with rage, his face dis- 
torted with the passion he would have liked to wreak 
on some one at once. Just then he caught sight 
of Merk. With a guttural cry, like an animal, he 


THE ERUPTION OF SAM 101 


stooped and picked up a heavy hammer lying on 
the floor. 

I fll kill that damn dog right now.” 

Had any of the three been in a condition to no- 
tice it, they would before this have heard the patter 
of running footsteps on the concrete walk. 

Furious, and breathless, Billy threw himself upon 
big Sam, and wrenched the hammer from his 
hand. 

Y ou ’ll — kill Merk — will you ? ” he gasped. 

Y ou low-lived — trai — torous scoun — drel ! You ’ll 
— kill Merk — because he — defended our — car — 
when you — came to — wreck it. You — ” 

Billy’s breath failed him completely, and he 
struck Sam a stinging blow in the face. 

Sam did not return the blow. He was opening 
and shutting his mouth, like a fish out of water. He 
would have hesitated at no lie to extricate himself 
from his predicament had his dull wits vouchsafed 
him a plausible one. 

I never done nothing to your car,” he finally 
asserted sullenly. 

^^No, I guess — you didn’t. Couldn’t — very 
well, with Merk — sitting on your — chest. But you 
schemed with — Kotzalki to — ” 

Never saw Kotzalki,” Sam began to bluster. I 
; was jes’ sweeping out the garage — ” 

Sweeping out ! ” Billy shouted so fiercely that 
i Sam shrank back from him. Then, what were you 


102 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


— doing with that hammer? What did — you have 
those tools for ? ” 

He pointed to several heavy wrenches on the 
floor, which the others had not noticed. 

Caught with the goods on, this time,” Mike jeered. 

Guess we ’d better go call your cop friend.” 

With each word of accusation, each bit of proof, 
Sam shuffled off a few feet, while Billy relentlessly 
followed him. Mike, in keen enjoyment of Sam’s 
discomfiture, hovered about the two, throwing in a 
word now and then to sick the little feller onto 
Sam.” 

Raleigh sank down on his knees beside the collie. 

‘‘ Oh, Merk ! Merk ! ” he sobbed, with his arms 
around the dog’s neck. didn’t know — forgive 
me — forgive me ! ” 

And Merk licked Raleigh’s face, and put a paw 
on his shoulder, and in every doggish way tried to 
tell his master that he understood and forgave him 
for the undeserved kick. 


CHAPTER XXII 
‘^they’re off” 

And now came the hour for the actual starting. 
One by one the cars came out, looking more like 
peddler’s wagons than like racing automobiles. They 
were loaded with all the things their drivers thought 
might come in handy to make their way through the 
wilds ahead of them. They had block-and-tackle to 
pull themselves out of gullies ; coils of rope to pull 
themselves through rivers ; long poles for prying 
themselves out of mud-holes ; an assortment of furs 
to keep an Indian tribe warm ; little shelter tents 
for sleeping in the open ; tools to outfit a machinist’s 
shop ; spare tires, spare tubes, spare springs, spare 
bolts — and even, as one wag remarked, the drivers 
had spare faces. 

The Phoenix Bird, among all the cars, attracted 
the most attention. It had caught the popular fancy. 
To see it standing upright on its two wheels seemed 
little less than a miracle to the mass of sightseers, 
who were clustered so thickly in Times Square that 
they threatened to break through the roof of the 
subway. 

Aint she a bird ?” was the usual comment when 


104 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


the name of the car became known. And whether 
it was the suggestion of its name, or whether the 
imagination of some reporter had been fired by Kip- 
ling’s Night Maily at any rate one of the afternoon 
papers asserted, in type three inches high, that Ra- 
leigh had so perfected the principle of the gyroscope 
that it was able not only to overcome the ordinary 
laws of equilibrium, but the law of gravitation itself, 
and that as soon as the Phoenix Bird was away 
from the more thickly populated parts of the coun- 
try, it would soar into the air and make a bee-line 
for Paris. And for days after this the more credu- 
lous of trans-Atlantic passengers kept raking the 
sky with their binoculars, in hopes of sighting the 
Bird on its flight. 

But of all this the two young inventors knew 
nothing. They were entirely too much occupied in 
trying to keep within some respectable distance of 
the other contestants in the race. The high hopes 
with which they started off slumped most dismally 
as they quickly ascertained what a tremendous ad- 
vantage the other motors had over them in the mat- 
ter of speed and power. 

Through the suburbs of the metropolis, where 
speed regulations were in force, the Phoenix Bird 
bowled merrily along in the lead of the racers ; but 
as soon as they reached the open country she was 
like a poodle in a troup of greyhounds. 

One car after another swept by, with ironical 


THEY’RE OFF 


105 


shout or handwave. Tizaine, of the Briquette, kissed 
his hand to them with French theatricalness. The 
Yankee Doodle was the last to pass them, and Hots- 
tough throttled down for an instant beside them. 

‘‘ W ell, good-bye, boys,” he shouted cheerfully. 

See you later, in Paris.” 

His cut-out snorted, and the Yankee Doodle van- 
ished in a cloud of dust. 

Blythe, their official correspondent, from the rear 
seat leaned out and examined the end of the car. 

Anything the matter ? ” Billy asked sharply. 

I was just looking to see if we ’d forgotten to 
pull up the anchor ; but I see we have n’t.” 

He spoke in a hopeless tone of voice, and Raleigh 
set his teeth. They were really not going at such a 
bad rate of speed ; but they were up against the 
very best and most powerful cars of the world, and 
no wonder they appeared slow. 

They ’ve sure got the legs on us,” Blythe went 
on dismally. I suppose by the time we reach 
Chicago, we ’ll read about the finish of the race in 
Paris.” 

His extreme pessimism acted like a cold shower on 
Raleigh. It invigorated his own drooping spirits, 
and he burst into a laugh. 

Blythe regarded him with gloomy eyes. 

‘‘You are young!” he announced sadly. “You 
are young 1 ” 


CHAPTER XXIII 


BLYTHE IS INSPIRED TO POETRY 

For the first four days it appeared as if the con- 
test for supremacy lay only between the Capri and 
the Asquith Flyer, Minor accidents delayed all the 
other big cars, at one point or other ; and these two 
forged far ahead. 

They just are within telegraphing distance of 
us,” Blythe groaned. 

Billy grinned. He had begun to get accustomed 
to the older man’s pessimistic attitude, and did not 
mind it so much. 

What makes me tired,” he answered, is for 
the Liebig to break an axle, send for another, put 
it in place, and still keep ahead of us.” 

Raleigh said nothing. Anxiously he looked up at 
the sky. Not a cloud was in it. The glorious fall 
weather and the smooth, dry roads made the going 
unusually good. 

Yes, it ’s good weather,” Blythe croaked, notic- 
ing Raleigh’s gaze at the sky ; but you need n’t 
think it will be like this the whole way. Wait till it 
begins to storm and snow. Then you ’ll see us stop 
going at all. I dare say we ’ll get stuck somewhere, 


BLYTHE INSPIRED TO POETRY 107 

and they ’ll dig us out in the spring, frozen stiff — 
with grim determination on our faces, and the said 
faces still turned to far-distant Paris. Gad ! what a 
poem that would make — 

Sti£E and stark they sat, 

Gyroscope mute, 

She was a beaut 

— No, that is n’t right — sounds as if it were a comic 
poem. Besides, I expect she ’d have toppled over and 
spilled us out.” 

About this time the occupants of the Phanix 
Bird began to notice a difference in the reception 
they received in the various towns they passed 
through. The fickle newspapers, and the more fickle 
public, having found out that the queer car stood no 
chance in the race, changed their first admiration 
into merciless ridicule. A new verb was born into 
the slang of the day, to phoenix,” which indicated 
anything but swift motion. 

Of this general ridicule they were not long left 
ignorant. The spectators at the roadside began to 
receive them with ironical jeers, and cries of ^^Here 
come the comical kids.” The reason for this last was 
made plain when in Toledo a man thrust into their 
hands the supplement of a Sunday newspaper con- 
taining a full-page colored cartoon, entitled — 

THE KOMIKAL KIDS 
AND THEIR 

PHUNNY PHCENIX FIEND 


108 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

— which pictured all kinds of misadventures into 
which they were supposed to have fallen through the 
eccentric behavior of the gyroscope. At one time 
it was shown going sideways through the streets of 
a crowded city, sweeping pedestrians and all traffic 
before it like a broom. Again, it insisted on travel- 
ing upside down, its passengers, with terror-stricken 
faces, clinging on underneath. In one spot it was 
supposed to have stopped and spun around like a 
top, for three hours ; and then decided to go back- 
ward for a whole day — which explained, entirely to 
the satisfaction of the artist, its undignified position 
at the tail-end of the procession. 

The victims of all this could not help laughing 
at the absurd figure they cut in the pictures, sore 
though they felt over them. 

Blythe, on the other hand, seemed quite encour- 
aged by the present attitude of the public toward 
the Phcenix Bird and its inventors. 

You’ve got the science, boys, but you haven’t 
got the punch,” he reassured them. (Blythe had at 
one time covered ” prize-fights for a San Francisco 
paper, and ring-side expressions still slipped from 
him occasionally.) Wait till you make a fifty horse- 
power Phoenix Bird, and you’ll have them all 
guessing.” 


CHAPTER XXIV 


LUNCHEON AT COLDGRAVE 

Beyond Chicago the country was becoming ever 
more sparsely settled, and the roads were now only 
good because they had been frozen hard and then 
worn tolerably smooth. The drivers of the Yankee 
Doodle and of the Dixie blessed their stars that the 
bottomless black Western soil was frozen into ada- 
mant ; but the drivers of the foreign cars, accustomed 
to their own good roads, grumbled continually. 

Y as iss der yuse of hundert-zwanzig horse- 
bower,” grumbled Wildejagd, ofer roads like dese ? 
I make better time mit a shteam roller.” 

But if the foreigners were not satisfied, they were 
soon to know worse. For the first time since the 
race started, the sky from east to west became over- 
cast. Darker and darker it grew, and bleaker and 
bleaker the landscape. The occupants of the Phoe- 
nix Bird watched the gathering storm with perhaps 
more interest than any of the other contestants. 

There it comes!” shouted Billy, holding out his 
furry arm on which rested one dainty snowflake. 

Blythe looked at him in surprise. 

Yes, ‘ there it comes,’ ” he mimicked. And when 


110 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

it has ‘ coined/ we ’ll spend four months in this in- 
viting winter resort” — he waved his hand at the 
desolate countryside — or we ’ll take the train 
back to New York.” 

A humorous smile played about Raleigh’s lips, but 
he said nothing. Billy gave himself a beary hug in 
his big coat, but he, too, added no words to his first 
exclamation. 

See the little flakelets descending,” Blythe 
mused presently. So white, so innocent — yet so 
sad. Snow is emblematic of oblivion. Flake by flake 
it falls — each by itself only an atom — yet all to- 
gether hiding the whole face of the earth. Just so, 
day by day forgetfulness comes to those that have 
passed away, and thrusts them into oblivion.” 

Blythe shook his head mournfully, and wiped 
away a large flake which flew into his ear. 

I dare say I have written twenty elegies and 
dirges about snow, but only one of them was ever 
accepted. And that was published in the humorous 
department by a man whom I had always regarded 
as a friend.” 

Conversation now became rather difficult on ac- 
count of the swirling snowflakes. When once the 
snow had made up its mind to come down, it lost no 
time in doing so. From the black clouds masses fell 
as if to overwhelm the traveler before he could get 
to shelter. Raleigh was forced to change from his 
high gear ; and by the time they reached the next 


LUNCHEON AT COLDGRAVE 111 

town, Coldgrave, they were plodding through six 
heavy inches of snow. 

Here they stopped for luncheon. While they were 
eating, the snow came down more heavily than ever. 

The landlord of the miserable little hotel viewed 
the fat flakes complacently. 

Guess you folks won’t be able to keep on any 
farther,” he said, with a sympathy which vainly 
strove to hide the satisfaction he felt at the prospect. 

have n’t seen so heavy a fall of snow for eighteen 
years — leastways, not in the time it ’s been snow- 
ing.” 

How deep is it now?” Raleigh asked. 

Must he over a foot already, and no telling how 
deep it’ll he by night. It’s coming down like Sam 
Hill. A team of oxen couldn’t hardly get along 
now. But after it clears up — which I guess won’t 
be later than day after to-morrer (or the next day) — 
the farmers ’ll break out the road. Then in a week 
or so it might get packed down so ’s you could travel 
in that there machine o’ yourn.” 

“A week in Coldgrave!” muttered Blythe discon- 
solately. 

Seems as if that would be a proper subject for 
a dirge,” Billy whispered to him. He as well as Ra- 
leigh was in unaccountably good spirits. 

‘^How much do we owe you for luncheon?” Ra- 
I leigh asked the landlord. 

I The latter’s face fell. 


112 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

You ain’t goin’ to try to keep on?” he asked 
shrilly. “Why, you boys don’t know what our roads 
is. You’ll he buried up to the neck in the drifts, 
and the farmers ’ll charge you — gosh ! they ’ll charge 
you ten dollars to pull you out. They’re mostly 
robbers around here when it comes to chargin’.” 

“I dare say,” Raleigh assented. “ How much for 
the lunch?” 

“ A dollar apiece,” the landlord said sulkily. Then, 
as he saw Raleigh pull out his purse to pay the 
double charge without protest, he added greedily, 
“And you’ll have to pay me another dollar for 
me lettin’ you stand your machine under my shed. 
Them’s my reg’lar rates for ottomobils,” he ended 
cantankerously. 

“ Come on, Billy,” Raleigh said, when he had 
paid the landlord. “Blythe, we shan’t be ready to 
start for another half-hour or so. You might as well 
stay in here and keep warm,” and the two boys waded 
out through the snow to the shed where the Bird 
stood. 


CHAPTER XXV 


‘‘the conversation fender’' 

Underneath the shed, for the use of which the 
landlord, for the first time in his career, had been 
able to charge a dollar, stood the Phcenix Bird, 

To some it might have appeared a dejected little 
car, with the snow drifting in around her wheels, 
and outside the deep, far-reaching white, through 
which no wheels could force their way ; but its two 
drivers wore anything except a doleful air as they 
approached it. 

Busily, as if good roads and smiling sunshine 
awaited them, they set to work, jacking up the front 
wheel, unscrewing a certain piece, fitting it on, then 
another, jacking up the rear wheel, and so on. They 
worked with a swift order that showed everything 
to have been prepared in advance. 

“ Do you think it will go here, as it did at home ? ” 
Billy asked anxiously. 

Raleigh’s face was pale and his lips dry with ex- 
citement. 

“We shall find out in a few minutes now.” 

There was no one around. The storm had discour- 
aged the usual knot of loafers. Like the landlord. 


114 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


they thought there would be plenty of time to ex- 
amine the car before the roads became passable 
again. 

For all their haste it seemed to the motorists to 
take hours to make the car ready, though it had 
not actually been more than three quarters of an 
hour. 

At last every part was in place, every bolt tight- 
ened. 

She ’s ready ! ” Billy said, in subdued tones of 
exhilaration. 

Raleigh ran his eyes over the machine from stem 
to stern. 

Yes, she ’s ready,” he murmured, an ecstasy of 
hope in his voice. Billy, you bring her round to 
the door, while I go rout out Blythe.” 

The correspondent had settled his long angular 
body in the most comfortable attitude, like a half- 
opened jackknife, in a big armchair beside the stove. 
He was dozing in the warmth, and looked up drowsily 
as Raleigh came in. 

Thought it about time you gave up whatever 
fool scheme you had, and came in to get warm,” he 
remarked. ^^IVe been evolving a scheme, myself, 
with some sense in it. Hibernating ! What do you 
think of that ? If a bear can do it, why should n’t a 
man ? Think how you could save time when you 
had n’t anything in particular to do. Think what a 
boon it would be to the poor laboring classes, when 


THE CONVERSATION FENDER 115 

they were out on a strike — just hibernate ! Cut off 
all living expenses, except rent. I think if I lived in 
Coldgrave I ’d become a permanent hibernator.” 

I guess you ’ll have to put it off for a bit and 
get busy.” 

Get busy? At what, for heaven’s sake? Snow- 
balling?” 

The snow does n’t pack well enough for that.” 

Blythe at last was struck with something unusual 
in Raleigh’s manner. 

^‘You seem mighty happy over something or 
other,” he said sleepily. 

am. We’re going to catch up with some of 
these other cars in the next few days.” 

Blythe’s eyelids sank gradually down over his 
eyes. Quit your fooling,” he murmured. 

If you don’t look out, you ’ll be left behind,” 
Raleigh continued. 

Honk! honk!„ sounded imperious blasts from 
outside. 

Blythe came out of his hibernating with speed. 

What ’s that ? ” he asked sharply. 

It ’s the Phoenix Bird^ ready for passengers,” 
Raleigh shouted exultantly. 

' The newspaper man rushed to the window and 
i looked out. There stood the gyrocar, apparently 
I perched up on the feathery snow, her wheels only 
|! sinking in a few inches. 

! Well, I’ll be dog-nabbed,” murmured Blythe, 

il 

1 ' 

il 

1 


116 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

tlioro uglily flabbergasted. You ’re actually go- 
ing!” 

^^Sure thing! Billy/’ Raleigh tapped on the win- 
dow and called through the glass, ^^take a turn 
around the yard to convince our distinguished 
friend.” 

With an answering grin, Billy let in the clutch, 
and the Phoenix Bird moved off over the snow. 

Wha-what keeps it from sinking ? ” he gasped. 

The ‘conversation fender.’ ” 

Blythe looked at Raleigh reproachfully, then sud- 
denly clutched his forehead with one hand, and his 
companion’s shoulder with the other. 

“ Tell me, quick ! Is something the matter with 
my head — or does n’t the front wheel turn ? ” 

“ Of course it does n’t turn,” Raleigh answered, 
with fine condescension. “ One wheel ’s all we need 
in the snow.” 

The older man gave a pathetic, puzzled look at the 
younger, and went over to his furs. 

“ When you get time,” he said humbly, “ you 
might explain things to this poor weak brain of 
mine. I told you I did n’t understand machinery.” 

“All right ; but come on now, so that we shall 
lose no more time.” 

Unnoticed by more than half ffozen people in 
the sleepy place, the gyrocar a. 'e out into the 
storm. The snow had already become so deep, 
and threw such a blinding veil over the landscape. 


THE CONVERSATION FENDER 117 


that but for the fence-posts and telegraph poles they 
might easily have wandered off the road without 
knowing it. 

To Blythe’s increasing mystification, the gyrocar 
lightly rode over the snow, as if it were smoothest 
asphalt, or rather as if it were a firm greensward ; 
for there was a softness and buoyancy about their 
going such as no mere road ever afforded. 

With the insatiable curiosity of the born news- 
gatherer, Blythe was all over the car, craning his neck 
and wearing his eyes out to understand this mystery. 
Presently he made out a little black three-cornered 
bit of wood, like the perked-up head of a snake, 
steadily traveling a few feet in front of the car 
through the feathery snow. 

Why ! it ’s on skis I ” he shouted. 

Raleigh assented, trying to keep his pride from 
bubbling forth in an unmannerly way. 

Great Scott ! ” Blythe relapsed into a dumb- 
founded silence, until a certain idea came to him. 

Oh ! see here, fellows,” he expostulated. It ’s 
all very well to stuff me, but if both wheels are on 
runners, what in thunder makes it go ahead ? ” 

The two young men burst out laughing at the 
injured tone of th^ other’s voice. 

^^It’s this way, ' xialeigh explained. ‘^There’s a 
long runner under^Cae r^Ont wheel, reaching nearly 
back to the driving-wheel. Then there’s another 
shorter one out behind. But the driving-wheel itself 


118 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


has a deeply grooved jacket on it, and goes down 
into the snow.” 

You see the front runner packs the snow,” Billy 
put in, ^^and the rear runner can he raised or lowered 
to give just the grip we want.” 

Oh, I see. But whatever made you think of it ?” 

^‘When the idea of going into the race came to 
us, we thought there would be a lot of snow to con- 
tend with, between New York and the good roads 
in Germany, so we invented this scheme — ” 

You invented it, you mean,” Billy interrupted. 

Anyhow, now we ’d rather have snow than not.” 
should think you would. Why, you’ll just 
make rings around the other cars, while the deep 
snow lasts.” 

That ’s what we ’ve been hoping for ever since 
we started ; but it looked rather desperate at one 
time.” 

With admiring eyes the correspondent noted their 
swift progress over the white country. 

Does n’t she just fly along ! ” he exclaimed. 

^‘Wait till you see her on a crust,” Billy said. 

That ’s the time when you ’ll think you ’re on a 
Vanderbilt Cup Racer.” 


CHAPTER XXVI 


A NOTCH ON THE REVOLVER 

The P ho&nix Bird halted only for a bag of 
crackers, a pound of cheese, and some gasolene at a 
country store. The moments of this momentous day 
were too precious to waste for food or rest. 

On and on they went. The short day faded out, 
but through the mist of falling flakes filtered light 
enough from the invisible moon to make it easy for 
them to see their way. 

With every mile the little car traveled more 
smoothly and rhythmically. It was as if the motor 
understood the opportunity that lay before it, and 
was going to make the most of it. 

Fatigue and hunger were lost to the three passen- 
gers in the thought that they were overhauling their 
rivals hand over hand. 

About midnight they came to Omaha, and glided 
through the deserted streets to the hotel at which 
they were to stop. A sleepy clerk stared at them as 
they entered the lobby, white as polar bears. 

Bad night for a walk,” he commented, with pro- 
fessional affability, pushing the hotel register toward 
them. 


120 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


It is that,^^ the newspaper man assented. But 
it ’s a thundering good night to get up an appetite 
in. Now, you hustle out some food, and then — 
beds!’’ 

The clerk was disposed to remonstrate at serving 
food at such an hour, until he learned who the 
newcomers were. Oh, of course, in that case I ’ll 
try to find you something to eat,” he said. He was 
only mildly surprised at their advent. He had been 
quite two years from his native village and displayed 
an exaggerated man-of-the-world manner. Nothing 
really astonished him. 

It must have been quite an experience, coming 
through this storm,” he said pleasantly. Another 
car, the Bonicastel, was here yesterday. They were 
kicking like steers about the roads, said they could n’t 
make over eight miles an hour to save ’em. I am 
surprised at your coming through snow like this. 
(So much he would admit.) — Yes, I ’ll see that you 
get your gasolene all right. — What time did you 
say you want to he called for breakfast in the morn- 
ing?” 

Three o’clock,” Raleigh answered. 

Three o’clock? Why, it ’s nearly one now. Just 
as you say, of course. I ’ll see that you get some- 
thing to eat then.” 

Are n’t you cutting the night rather short?” 
Blythe asked. He was no early riser by nature. 

Yes, I dare say we ought to make the most of 


A NOTCH ON THE REVOLVER 121 

this opportunity. I suppose there’s no telegraph 
office open now ? ” he asked, turning to the clerk. 

It would n’t do you any good if it were,” the 
clerk replied. The wires are down everywhere. 
The Western Union and the Postal both quit taking 
any more messages early this afternoon.” 

The short time of rest which the crew of the 
Phcenix Bird permitted themselves passed as passes 
a whiff of smoke in a hurricane. 

Sodden with unslept sleep, they turned out of 
bed at the call of the clerk, partook of the cold, un- 
inviting food put before them, and set out on their 
journey again. They were well supplied with oil and 
gasolene ; for the man-of-the-world clerk had proved 
a man of his word ; and they had the remnants of 
their breakfast in a paper bag, to facilitate constant 
travel. 

There was yet no faintest hint of morning in the 
sky. Night brooded over the countryside as deeply 
as when they had come into Omaha. Indeed, their 
brief period of rest seemed like a tantalizing dream 
from which they had been all too suddenly awak- 
ened, and the only real thing was this endless going 
forward through an unending white night. 

The moon must have set by this time, but in the 
universal white it was still easy to make out their 
way. The snowflakes had become smaller, and the 
weather somewhat colder. 


U2 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

Their directions were explicit : Follow the tele- 
phone wires.’^ The wires were down in many places, 
but the poles still guided them. In this matter o£ 
finding their way, the young drivers had often to 
congratulate themselves on the presence of Blythe. 
The newspaper man might not understand about 
machinery, but he had a truly marvelous sense of 
direction, of orientation. 

A map was to him a living thing. When he had 
pored over it in the morning, it was as if for the day 
he were traveling through familiar country. On such 
a trip as this, this faculty of his was worth much in 
preventing loss of time through taking the wrong 
road when no one was at hand to direct them. 

By six o’clock there was faint promise in the sky 
that the night would not last forever. Shortly after- 
wards they passed through a small town — a town 
asleep. 

Only one mortal was on the streets. He stared at 
the rapid approach of the Phmnix Bird^ as if turned 
to a pillar of salt. Only when they had passed him did 
he come to life enough to shout something after them. 

Billy, on the back seat, had an ear less muffled up 
than the other two. 

^^Did you hear what that man said?” he asked 
sharply. 

^^No, what was it?” Raleigh replied. 

He said the Asquith Flyer was here, with some- 
thing or other smashed.” 


A NOTCH ON THE REVOLVER 123 

The effect of these words was tremendous. Weari- 
ness fell from the occupants of the Phoenix Bird and 
left them lively and cheerful as crickets. 

On the still air broke whoops and shouts which 
brought many a disheveled head to the windows as 
they passed along; and the next morning there was 
great discussion in the town. Certain people de- 
clared that they had seen an automobile with a gang 
of drunken rufSans, yelling like Comanche Indians, 
tearing furiously through the town. Other people, 
not so quick from their beds, pooh-poohed the idea 
of anything so preposterous, although they had to 
admit that they certainly thought they had heard 
what sounded like shouting. 

But out in the open country a tall lank man, with 
much effort of his furry fingers, managed to open 
his pocket-knife. Then he drew forth his revolver, 
and solemnly cut a notch in the handle. 

^^One of ’em,’’ he said. 


CHAPTER XXVII 


THE GREAT SNOW 

The rapacious landlord of the hotel at Coldgrave 
had not exaggerated when he declared that he had 
not seen such a snowstorm for eighteen years. Had 
he waited a little longer he need not have limited it 
to eighteen years : in the known history of America 
so much snow had never fallen at one time before. 

It was hardly a storm ” in the ordinary use of 
the word. There was no battle of the elements, no 
raging winds and piling drifts ; but through the still 
air all the moisture of the skies seemed descending 
in a white feathery mass. So steadily and so strongly 
did the snow come down that it was as if, at once 
and forever, the earth was to be blotted out by this 
white blanket, which hid all its defects, covered all 
its brown ugliness, and was too deep for men, ma- 
chinery, or animals to force their way through. 

Trains were stopped, or stalled between cities; 
the trolley lines were tied up ; carriages and wagons 
could not move a step ; and telegraph and telephone 
lines were universally down. Even sleighs were of 
no use, since the snow was so deep that horses could 
not wade through it. 


THE GREAT SNOW 


125 

Only the Indian, and the trapper on his snow- 
shoes, and the sportsman on his skis, were not de- 
prived of the means of locomotion. To these must be 
added the Phcenix Bird, which sped as swiftly over 
snow four feet deep as four inches. 

Each new place received it with a stupefaction of 
amazement. To each it arrived as a complete sur- 
prise, since no town had been able to warn the next 
of what to expect. 

For several days the only means of communica- 
tion left to the northern part of the United States 
was wireless telegraphy, and this proved entirely 
inadequate to the sudden flood of business that 
descended upon it. 

At Denver, Blythe finally managed to get a short 
dispatch through to New York announcing the bare 
fact of their arrival. This was printed under various 
ironical heads in the newspapers, such as 

THE KIDS KIDDING US 

and the like. The Sun added to it the following 
caustic comment : — 

Those ingenious young fellow citizens 
of ours who adapted the principle of the 
gyroscope to the automobile, and whose 
car, the Phcenix Bird^ was widely touted as 
a winner in the present New York to Paris 
automobile race, have evidently not ex- 
hausted their genius in the invention of the 
car. 

Although, while the going was good, the 


126 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAK 

Phoenix Bird obstinately maintained a posi- 
tion in the rear of all the other contestants, 
now that there is no going at all, we are 
asked to believe that it is getting over the 
country at an even faster rate than when 
all the circumstances were propitious. 

Either this dispatch is a prank of the 
youthful drivers — a prank of very ques- 
tionable taste — or else it is the practical 
joke of some amateur wireless operator, 
and points again to the necessity for gov- 
ernmental regulation of all wireless tele- 
graph stations. 

Little notice of the dispatch was taken, on the 
whole. America at large was just now so interested 
in its own experiences in the Great Snow that it 
had not a thought to expend on the race — espe- 
cially since it believed the race to be temporarily at 
a standstill. 

In a civihzed community a snowstorm, even when 
it entails some inconvenience or danger, is always a 
lark. The public fairly reveled in its own adven- 
tures in digging its way to grocer or milkman. A 
bit of primitive hardship was brought to the very 
doors of men who thought themselves far from such 
a possibility. 

But if the East could not become excited over 
the progress of the Phoenix Birdy there were certain 
people and places in the West that showed no such 
indifference. 

In Montrose our young travelers found the Boni- 
castel and the Bismarck. The crews of both cars 


127 


THE GREAT SNOW 

were amicably engaged in a game of Skaat/’ quite 
confident that no one else was making any faster 
progress than they were, and enjoying their enforced 
rest hugely. 

But when the Phoenix Bird dropped down upon 
them, and after a short stop went on its cheerful 
way, the other drivers lost their philosophic calm 
and scurried about as wildly as if any activity of 
theirs could melt the snow. 

Any message for Paree, Musher Frenchman ? ’’ 
Blythe asked, as they were setting out, with a genial 
wave of his hand. 

The stream of objurgations and ejaculations which 
this called forth, fairly wafted the Phoenix Bird on 
her way. 

But if other drivers were resting, the crew of the 
gyrocar were enduring the most unremitting toil. 
For three nights they hardly slept at all. Each notch 
cut on the handle of Blythe’s revolver stimulated 
them to renewed efforts, though hollows came under 
their eyes and lines in their cheeks. Their jaws only 
showed the squarer and more determined. Blythe 
doubtless felt the strain equally, but no murmur 
of complaint came from behind the fuzzy beard 
which had grown up till it nearly hid his lean coun- 
tenance. 

Five notches were on Blythe’s revolver before the 
East really woke up to what was going on. By this 
time the West was in a perfect fury of enthusiasm. 


128 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


As the telegraph lines began to be put in working 
order, they found that the schools were let out to 
see them pass; banners were hung out in their 
honor ; and banquets arranged — which they did not 
stop to eat. At Salt Lake City a huge bunting was 
stretched across the road reading, — 


WELCOME TO OUR FAIR CITY 
YOUNG SNOWBIRDS 


CHAPTER XXVm 


SOME NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS 

If the newspapers had neglected them at first, 
they more than made up for it when finally they 
grasped the situation. Besides superlative descrip- 
tions of the Phcenix Bird’s exploit, there were edi- 
torial comments in every paper in the country. 

The Boston Herald declared that the arrival of 
an aeroplane in Salt Lake City would not have been 
‘^so significant an event. Indeed,” it added, ‘^it 
would have been much less of a feat for an airship 
to reach Salt Lake City under present conditions 
than for a motor-car to do so.” 

The Toledo Blade, with considerable imagina- 
tion surmised that the performance of the Phoenix 
Bird opens up a new vista in Arctic exploration. A 
^ dash ’ to the Pole may become a dash, indeed, with 
a gyrocar on runners, instead of the slow laborious 
crawl it now is.” 

While the Montreal Evening News, taking a more 
practical, everyday view of the achievement, said: — 

It is a well-known fact that a large part 
of the operating expenses of Northern rail 
and trolley roads is incurred during the 
winter months, by the necessity of continu- 


130 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

ally clearing the tracks of snow. And much 
of the work must be done by hand, in spite 
of the numerous mechanical devices con- 
tinually being invented. 

But an entirely new way of meeting the 
difficulty may be the outcome of the suc- 
cess of the Phoenix Bird in riding over, in- 
stead of forcing its way through, the snow. 
Indeed, with it, snow may become as great 
an advantage as it now is in lumbering. 

Every middle-aged man can remember 
the advent of the trolley car — the “ broom- 
stick train,” as the poet happily called it 
— which ousted the horse-car, and by kill- 
ing the market for medium-grade horses 
helped to bring on the hard times of ’93. 

Shall these same men live to see the 
trolley superseded by the gyrocar, young- 
est child of man’s inventive brain ? Truly 
the world wags fast in this twentieth cen- 
tury of ours. 



Somehow Blythe managed to keep track of all 
the newspaper articles which appeared about the 
gyrocar. He left every large town laden with a 
huge bundle of papers, which he shed along the 
road as he got through with them. 

H’m ! you \e certainly made a ten-strike with 
the public, young sirs,” he commented, as he glanced 
over his bundle of papers. They ’re fairly raking 
the place for items about you. — Aha ! and here is 
our old college chump, Sam Peavy again. — Seems 
as if he all but invented this car himself.” 


Blythe read on to himself, occasionally quoting 
bits he thought of especial interest. 


SOME NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS 131 

^‘Listen to this : ^Gallant young drivers/ — that ’s 
going some. — And here we find, ^ With the superb 
confidence of youth ’ — it would be pretty hard for 
you to have the confidence of middle-age just yet. — 
And here we are again, ^Intrepid young contestants/ 
— They don’t say a word about the noble-browed and 
bewhiskered newspaper man who watches over you 
like a mother. Never mind ! They won’t be describ- 
ing the style of hosiery I affect, and if I’m not 
mistaken that ’s what you two are rapidly drifting 
toward. If I should charge you regular clipping- 
bureau rates for these items I regale you with, I ’d 
come home a millionaire.” 


CHAPTER XXIX 


BACK IN PUNCHARD 

Old Man Hawpe ” was puttering around his 
blacksmith’s shop one morning in a very ill-humor. 
He felt rocky/’ as he expressed it, and not with- 
out reason. The night before he had stayed down 
in the saloon till past midnight, and when finally he 
got home, the gate in the fence around his little 
house had mysteriously disappeared. 

He studied the phenomenon for some time ; then, 
enraged at such a perfidious act, he threw his huge 
bulk against the fence. A panel broke under him, 
and he fell with it. As he lay helpless, several pick- 
ets gave him vicious digs in the back and sides. He 
lashed out with his arms. 

Billy ! Hey, Billy ! ” he called loudly. 

After a long time he remembered that Billy was 
off skylarking ” in New York. Ungrateful young 
whelp ! ” he muttered. 

Somehow he got to bed, and in the morning 
awoke late to cold discomfort. 

The blacksmith missed his son more than he had 
any idea he should. When Billy was around, there 
was some semblance of order in the house. The hall 
stove was always supplied with coal, so that there 


BACK IN PUNCHARD 


133 


was at least one place to warm one’s self; and in 
the pantry there was always something for a hungry 
man to eat. 

They had not had regular meals because Hawpe 
so frequently was away with companions he pre- 
ferred to his son. But now that Billy was gone, he 
began to feel many inconveniences. 

This morning it was with a dark brown ” taste 
in his mouth, and a general feeling of being badly 
used that the big blacksmith was making ready for 
his day’s work. 

No trade came for some time, and this added to 
Hawpe’s ill-humor. 

The first person to present himself at the shop 
was a neatly dressed young man whose appearance 
bespoke the city. Uncertainly he glanced about. 

^^I’m looking for Mr. Hawpe,” he began tenta- 
tively. 

The blacksmith glared at him contemptuously. 
Looking for Mister Hawpe, are you ? ” he mim- 
icked in a rough falsetto. 

The other grinned cheerfully. 

They told me I ’d find ^ old man Hawpe ’ here- 
abouts. Do you happen to be he ? ” 

And what if I am ? ” Hawpe growled, refusing 
to thaw to the friendliness of the stranger. 

^^Then you’re the father of William Hawpe?” 
Yes, I ’m the father of ^ Willyum ’ Hawpe. And 
what may ^Willyum ’ have been up to now ? ” 


134 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


^^Well, Raleigh Kilbreth and he have been up to 
a clever stunt with their gyrocar the last few days, 
and the public is mightily interested in everything 
concerning them.’’ 

Billy ’s every bit as clever as Raleigh Kilbreth,” 
Hawpe said jealously, though I suppose they’ve 
been telling you in Punchard that Raleigh was the 
whole show.” 

^^Not at all. I’ve just seen Squire Kilbreth, and 
he always spoke of ‘ the boys,’ and of their work 
together on the car.” 

Oh, he did, did he?” Hawpe was mollified. 

I ’m not denying, you understand, that the idee 
wasn’t Raleigh’s; but he’d never have worked it 
out if it had n’t been for my Billy. Raleigh ’s got 
something besides bats in his belfry, though, all 
right, or he would n’t have come around me — hir- 
ing Billy the way he did.” 

Encouraged by the tactful reporter, who met all 
kinds of men in his work, and had learned to get on 
with them all, Hawpe related the story of the hiring 
of Billy, and many other incidents about him. 

That boy of yours must be mighty clever with 
tools. I suppose you taught him,” the reporter sur- 
mised. 

Hawpe straightened himself up and gave a tug at 
his rusty waistcoat. 

Yes, I taught him — taught him all he knows. 
Tools and machinery always was easy for me. Seems 


135 


BACK IN PUNCHARD 

like I could tell how to fix a thing soon ’s I looked 
at it — and Billy ’s just the same.” 

The reporter nodded. I see. Inherited it from 
you.” 

Hawpe flushed, and gave his touzled hair a clumsy 
swipe with his hand. 

But what was it you said they ’d just been a-do- 
ing ? ” he asked. 

The reporter told him. 

Delighted, Hawpe slapped his knee. 

By gum ! that was smart of ’em. Slid right 
over the snow, did they ? and caught up with the 
other fellers, while they were stuck tight. I say, 
those kids’ll have a chance in the race after all, 
won’t they?” 

For half an hour the reporter talked with the 
blacksmith, and the latter entirely forgot his ill-hu- 
mor in the interest of the conversation. 

Y ery much obliged to you,” the reporter said, 
as he put his wad of paper into his pocket and pre- 
pared to take his leave. There will be a photo- 
grapher up here to-morrow to take a lot of pictures : 
the shop where they worked. Squire Kilbreth’s 
house, your house, and so forth. We’re going to 
have a special article about them next Sunday.” 

After he was gone, Hawpe’s first impulse was to 
go down to the saloon and brag to his good friend 
the saloon-keeper, and to whomever else might be 
there, of the fame that had come upon his son. 


136 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


Before he could carry out this plan a milkman 
came in to have his horse shod. Being a little short 
of ready cash, — and without money there was little 
pleasure in going to the saloon, — he thought he 
might as well do this job first. But while he pulled 
the bellows and shaped the shoe to the foot of the 
old white horse, who stood there sleepily, Hawpe’s 
brain was more active than it had been in years. 

So they were writing pieces about his Billy,” he 
thought. A New York paper, too ; and they were 
going to send up a photographer to take pictures of 
the place where Billy had worked, and where he 
lived.” 

The idea was not entirely pleasant. Of course 
Squire Kilbreth’s house would look all right in the 
paper — it was one of the best houses in town ; but 
his own — 

When his wife had been alive, she had had vines 
trained up around the door, and some flower-beds 
along the fence, and Billy had kept the grass-plot 
cut regularly. It had been a pretty cottage in those 
days. Now — 

He recalled the time when a loose branch of the 
crimson rambler had brushed across his face and 
scratched his nose. That was last summer, and he 
had torn the whole vine up by the roots — just the 
way he had smashed the fence last night. The 
flower-beds had long ago grown up in weeds, and 
the grass-plot, too. Billy had been too busy working 


BACK IN PUNCHARD 137 

with Raleigh to take care of his poor old father’s 
yard. 

Hawpe’s compassion for himself changed to dull 
remorse as he remembered that Billy had not neg- 
lected the little lawn until he himself had smashed 
the lawn-mower with an axe, one day, after stumbling 
over it. 

When the old white horse was shod, and the milk- 
man had taken him away, Hawpe shut up his shop, 
and walked out to his home, not far distant. 

Yes, it was a dreary-looking place. The snow, of 
course, hid what had once been flower-beds and 
lawn, but the fence was disreputable. Gloomily 
Hawpe noted that the gate was in its usual place. 


CHAPTER XXX 


A man ’s got any GIMP TO HIM ” 

Well, he’d fix up the fence, anyway.” 

Hawpe was a man of action, for good or for evil. 
He no sooner made up his mind than he set to work, 
and shortly had repaired the damage of last night. 

That made things look a little better. But the 
place was still very bare and bleak. His wife had 
wanted to set out some trees, especially evergreens, 
but he had always laughed at her for it. They ’d all 
be dead and gone before the trees were any size, he 
used to say. 

And now Mary was dead and gone, but if he ’d 
set out the trees when she wished, they would be 
there to grace the picture of her boy’s home. 

Hawpe shouldered his axe and set off for the 
woods. At noon he came back ravenously hungry. 
He thought of the hot free lunch in the saloon, and 
hesitated. 

Have n’t time for it,” he decided, with a shake of 
his shaggy head. 

As he passed the grocery store he bought a can 
of sardines, a loaf of bread and some butter. His 
appetite made a banquet of these, and he dispatched 


IF A MAN’S GOT ANY GIMP 139 

them in ten minutes. Then from a neighbor he hired 
a horse and pung, and set off again for the woods. 

Pilkins was the name of the man from whom 
Hawpe hired the horse, and late that afternoon Pil- 
kins came in to his wife, bubbling over with amuse- 
ment. 

^^Say, Hannah Jane, old man Hawpe must be 
drunker ’n a boiled owl to-day. He ain’t been at his 
shop sence mornin’ ; hired old Bet from me ; went 
into the woods, and come back with a load of — 
what d’ you s’pose ? ” 

Mrs. Pilkins cast wildly about in her mind for the 
most improbable possibility. 

Snow,” she hazarded. 

Snow ! ” Mr. Pilkins repeated in great disgust. 

Now what would he be bringing home a load of 
snow for ? ” 

You said he was drunk,” Mrs. Pilkins argued 
timidly, an’ I thought — ” 

Jes’ like a woman to think of a fool thing like 
that. No, ’t war n’t snow — though ’t might ’s well 
’a’ been. Hebrunghome a load o’ Chris^mus trees. 

For the land’s sakes ! ” Mrs. Pilkins exclaimed. 

What ’d he want with them ? ” 

^^Hunno. Guess he must ’a’ forgot what time o’ 
year it was. I thought I’d do a neighborly act by 
him, so I went out and says to him : ^ Hawpe,’ says 
I, ‘ don’t you know ’t ain’t Chris’mus Day ? ’ But 


140 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

he answered me real short : ^ Is that so ? ’ says he. 
^ ’T ain’t April Fool’s Day neither.’ He turned his 
back on me, so I didn’t say no more. And then 
what d’ you s’spose he done with them trees ? ” 

Mrs. Pilkins was too wise to hazard a guess this 
time. What ’d he do? ” she asked. 

He ’5 set ’em all up in the snow around his 
house. Jest look out o’ the winder and see for your- 
self.” 

Mrs. Pilkins rushed to the window fast enough. 

W ell, if you ain’t spoke the truth ! ” she ex- 
claimed, as if this were an unusual performance in 
her husband. After a rapt contemplation of the 
Hawpe house, she added : They dew look real 
pretty, though. I ’d no idee they ’d brighten up his 
house like that. I declare. Si, I wish you ’d cut a 
load to-morrow, and set ’em up around our house.” 

Unmindful of what his neighbors might think of 
him, Hawpe considered that he had done a good 
day’s work, and felt a glow of self-satisfaction. The 
clusters of little pine trees stood up in the snow as 
naturally as if they had grown there for years. 

He stood off and surveyed his cottage critically, 
then gave a satisfied chuckle. 

^^Come on and photograph, if you want to,” he 
roared to the world at large. ‘G guess Billy can 
live in a house with a proper fence around it, and 
trees in the front yard, as well as Raleigh.” 


IF A MAN’S GOT ANY GIMP 141 

It was evening. After the elation of his labors 
had somewhat subsided, Hawpe became aware of a 
consuming thirst within him. He was hungry, too, 
but did not think of this. 

He gulped down three glasses of water, but they 
only partly satisfied him. 

“ Guess I ’ll go down to Tim’s and get a nice cool 
schooner,” he said to himself in a nonchalant way. 

Have n’t had a drink to-day.” 

He tried to imagine that he was both surprised at 
the discovery, and that there was nothing unusual in 
it, — although he knew that all day long he had sub- 
consciously been fighting the desire to go to Tim’s, 
and, moreover, that it was a very unusual condition 
for him to be in. 

There ’s nothing else to do to-night, anyway,” he 
assured himself. ^Gf Billy were here I would n’t go.” 

It was a very weak argument ; but any argument 
is strong enough to convince men of the propriety 
of doing that which they wish to. 

He sauntered along as if it were really a matter of 
indifference to him where he went. 

At the saloon were his friends. There he would 
be met with shouts of welcome ; and there he would 
be treated, and treat, on the strength of Billy’s 
success. 

But something other than his usual impulses 
were at work. Was it the day spent cleanly among 
the young pine trees ; or was it the memory of his 


142 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


wife — of her flower-beds and roses, and (for the 
thought would not down) of her unhappiness and 
her reproachful eyes — she who never had re- 
proached him with words ? 

Hawpe’s conscience, long dormant, would not let 
him off as easily as usual to-night. 

He thought of Billy in the papers,” and then of 
himself as he probably should be a few hours from 
now, staggering home, with the world reeling around 
him, his pockets empty, — and the gate in the fence 
once more gone. 

‘‘ Might n’t know the house at all, with those 
pretty trees around it,” he soliloquized with grim 
humor. 

‘‘ ’T ain’t treating Billy right,” he muttered, a 
few minutes later. 

Yet his footsteps kept on, though slowly. 

The bell of the church began to ring. 

I wonder what that ’s for? ” He was glad to get 
his thoughts away from his own shortcomings. 

It was the bell of his own church, to which he 
had not been for years. His way led past it, and he 
saw a notice that there was a temperance meeting 
there. 

He contemplated it a long time. 

Guess that means me, all right.” 

Moved by a sudden, freakish impulse, in his work- 
ing clothes as he was, he joined the people going up 
the steps^ and took a seat in a rear pew. 


IF A MAN’S GOT ANY GIMP 143 

There was a good speaker that night. Sometimes 
Hawpe listened to him, nodding his head at certain 
truths that came home to him ; at other times his 
mind wandered to Billy. 

If I go down to Tim’s to-night, I ’ll get drunk, 
sure’s you ’re born,” his thoughts ran on. ^Wil- 
liam Hawpe’s drunken old father’ — bow’d that 
look in the papers ? Raleigh ain’t ashamed of his 
father — hasn’t got any cause to be.” 

He turned from his own disagreeable reflections 
to the words of the speaker. The latter was a good, 
pious man. He was declaring at the end of his ser- 
mon that no man could stop drinking who did not 
have the church to help him in his struggle. A man 
might have all the good resolutions in the world, 
but unless he went regularly to church, his endeavors 
would assuredly end in failure. 

Something in this declaration — something in the 
speaker himself — roused all the native combative- 
ness in Hawpe. He rose to his feet in the hush 
which followed the close of the speaker’s words, and 
announced calmly, but in words that could be heard 
all over the church : — 

If a man ’s got any gimp to him, he can stop 
drinking if he ’s a mind to — and I ’m going to! ” 
and marched out of the church. 


CHAPTER XXXI 


ACROSS THE CONTINENT 

It would take too long to follow the Phoenix 
Bird step by step across the continent to San Fran- 
cisco. Arduous as it was, it was only a preliminary 
to the real work to be done in Siberia. Those who 
are interested in all the details of the race will find 
a conscientious and accurate description of every 
mud-hole, of every rock, of every rut and bump 
between the cities of New York and San Francisco 
in the voluminous work of Lauterworter, who trav- 
eled with the lAehig, Or if you would see another 
side of the race, read the four hundred and fifty 
pages of impassioned rhetoric produced by Antonio 
Rusticano, of the Ischia. 

Rusticano, in language which fairly sizzles, has 
descanted at length on all the real and imaginary 
evil traits of America, — American mud, American 
snow, American cold, and American heat. At least 
twenty times in his book does he exclaim with fer- 
vor, ^‘The roads now became absolutely impassable,’’ 
and then goes on to tell how he managed to* pass 
over them ; or, Our labors had been so terrific 
that our legs had no more strength in them than 


ACROSS THE CONTINENT 145 

wet rags/’ and then describes minutely the subse- 
quent wonders performed by the wet-rag legs. 

Without doubt the difficulties encountered w^re 
enormous, and not the least trying part was the 
knowledge that for six or seven long months they 
would be continued. 

Of these trials and tribulations the Phcenix Bird 
had somewhat less than her share. There were vari- 
ous reasons for this. As we have seen, the snow was 
a help instead of being a hindrance ; secondly, its 
single track not only enabled it to pass easily along 
many places where the four-wheeled cars found 
themselves too wide, but it relieved her of all the 
side-strain which was responsible for so many of 
the breakages. Her lighter weight, too, was of the 
greatest possible advantage ; and finally, perhaps 
from the fact that the gyrocar was entirely made by 
hand by the young inventors themselves, no weak- 
ness or flaw developed, such as were bound to appear 
in machines turned out by the hundreds from the 
factories. 

Yet the Phcmix Bird only continued to gain on 
her rivals by taking advantage of every opportunity 
which Fortune threw in her way : a bit of footpath, 
too narrow for the others, would gain them miles ; 
once a chasm filled to the brim with snow, over 
which they glided on their runners, cut off a long 
detour. 

Blythe proved a veritable sleuth-hound in the dis- 


146 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

covery of by-paths and short-cuts. Besides his own 
sense of orientation, he seemed able to extract intel- 
ligible directions from the stupidest or the most 
surly persons they met. Not for nothing had he in- 
terviewed so many men in his newspaper career. 

But even with all their advantages it was a hard 
and wearisome journey. In a short race of a few 
miles, or even of a few hundred, the intense excite- 
ment will carry the contestants through almost in- 
credible difficulties. But when the strain is stretched 
over twenty-five thousand miles and months of time, 
nothing but bulldog grit and endurance can carry 
one through. 

There were parts of this trip which ever after- 
wards, to the passengers of the gyrocar, were only 
a barren nightmare of white and cold, of little sleep 
and long hours of dumb endurance. Their day be- 
gan hours before the sun arose. By the brilliant 
starlight, or by the lighter but more deceptive moon- 
light, they would set out, knowing that it would be 
deep night again before they could hope for a little 
rest. 

There were times when they lost track of the 
other cars. If the going was good, they only knew 
that they themselves were losing ground. If it was 
bad, they hoped they were gaining. There were 
other times when they were so fatigued that they 
cared not whether they were ahead or behind. 

At the worst of these times Blythe would pipe up 


ACROSS THE CONTINENT 147 


and sing. His songs were only half-articulate — 
weird tunes he had learned before the mast, or 
among the Indians of Alaska, or from the Zulus of 
South Africa. 

In no part of the globe was it conceivable that 
his voice would have won him commendation. In- 
deed, he once confided to his companions that he 
never ventured to sing except in the desert parts of 
the world. It was less musical than a guinea hen’s 
voice; yet somehow or other it cheered up his hear- 
ers, though the words, when they could be made 
out, were invariably of the most lugubrious or sen- 
timental description. Raleigh suspected him some- 
times of singing words of his own composition, to 
the rambling, outlandish tunes. But in these deso- 
late wastes any human sound was welcome. 


CHAPTER XXXII 


HARNESSED FOR LIFE 

In bleat, wind-swept Nevada, where desolate 
mining-camps were the only towns they saw, the cold 
came down upon them. They had had uncomfort- 
ably cold days before, but this was something dit 
ferent. 

It was as if the glacial period had come back 
again to North America, and, resuming its reign, 
decreed that no living being should exist here any ' 
longer. 

Had the motor not been air-cooled, assuredly any 
non-freezing mixture whatsoever would have been 
congealed at their first stop. 

They suffered intensely ; it seemed as if they 
could never become warm again. They stopped what 
desultory conversation they had had, and sat in si- 
lence, crouched down as far as possible in their furs. 
All their faculties were numbed. Had the trail at 
this point not been unusually good, had they come 
upon some difficulty requiring thought and action, 
they would have sat there and frozen to death. 

To Blythe came at length a realization of their 
danger. He had been sitting with his eyes closed. 


HARNESSED FOR LIFE 


149 


half-dozing, when the sense of danger rushed over 
him, and roused him to make a desperate stand 
against the insidious cold. 

‘‘ Here, fellows ! ’’ he shouted. We ’ll all freeze 
to death, if we keep on like this. We must n’t goto 
sleep — we must exercise — do something to keep 
awake and warm up.” 

There was a muffled grumble from Raleigh. Billy, 
sunk in lethargy, did not answer. 

\ Slow up a bit. I’m going to get out and run; 
ai d you two had better do the same.” 

IvTechanically Raleigh slowed the car. Neither he 
nor Billy would budge from their seats, however. 

Blythe sprang out. But when he tried to run, his 
feet slipped in the snow. He took hold of the back 
of the car, but felt his hands stiffening, and feared 
lest they should freeze in this position. 

In a minute he clambered back into the car, his 
two companions taking not the slightest interest in 
his movements. He felt just a trifle warmer from his 
exertions ; but to his repeated exhortations the others 
paid no heed. 

Blythe felt that the situation was becoming des- 
perate. The cold had done its work so insidiously 
that they did not even know their own danger. In 
some way they must be roused. There was no tell- 
ing how many miles they were from any human 
habitation where they could warm up. 

I ’ll rope’s-end ’em and start a fight,” the re- 


150 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


porter said to himself. “ That ’ll liven ’em up. They 
may get so mad they ’ll throw me out and go off and 
leave me, but I ’ll have to risk that.” 

He rummaged among their stores on the back seat 
with him, for a piece of rope. The swinging end 
of that would sting them into action as nothing else 
at hand would. Blythe had not been a sailor for 
nothing — he knew. 

He found the rope, and swung a couple of feet of 
it around, to get the feel and balance of it. Theu 
drawing back his arm, he was just about to bri ig 
the rope down across Raleigh’s shoulders in a hard 
cutting stroke, when he paused, with hand uplifted. 

No. I ’ve a better plan than that,” he muttered. 

For half an hour he struggled silently with the 
rope, on the back seat, utterly unnoticed by his 
companions. At times he almost cried in helpless 
vexation at the way the rope eluded his numbed 
fingers. He knew exactly what he wanted to do ; 
but it seemed as if his mind were trying to direct 
the fingers of a corpse. 

Again and again the rope turned and twisted out 
of his hands, like a vicious living thing, while the 
motor-car rumbled along as if it were only running 
by its own momentum, and would presently sink 
into the universal cold inertness. 

But a man’s endeavors always succeed, if con- 
tinued long and hard enough, and at last the knots 
were tied, the work done. 


HARNESSED FOR LIFE 151 

He leaned over and gave Raleigh a rousing thump 
on the back. 

Angrily Raleigh turned around. What did you 
do that for ? ’’ he demanded. 

‘‘ Raleigh, we ’re going to freeze to death ! ” Blythe 
shouted. Look at Billy — he ’s almost asleep now. 
Stop the car.” 

Raleigh obeyed, and Blythe, springing out, 
dragged the unwilling Billy to the ground. 

^^Le’ me ’lone,” Billy grumbled. was just get- 
ting comf’ table.” 

Without a word, Blythe slipped his rope over 
Billy’s head. It was a rough kind of harness. 

^^Now, start her up,” Blythe commanded, jump- 
ing back into the car, and winding the other end of 
the rope around his own waist. Slowly — not more 
than five miles an hour.” 

In this crisis he took command of the expedition, and 
without questioning his reasons — without any curios- 
ity concerning them — Raleigh did as he was told. 

Billy stood in the snow, dazed, until the car had 
moved away the length of the rope, when he was 
nearly jerked off his feet. Instinctively he began to 
run, and was soon wide awake, bouncing and floun- 
dering along behind the car, in his rope harness. 

Here ! you funny guy ! ” he yelled angrily, ^Het 
me take this off.” 

But the car kept on, unmindful of his protests, 
and his own anger rose. 


152 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

Whatcher mean by this ? I ’ll punch your head, 
Blythe, when I get to you.” 

His temper and the enforced exercise warmed him 
up very effectually, in a few minutes. Furiously he 
tried to tear the rope from around his shoulders ; 
but with the Phoenix Bird tugging at the other end 
this was impossible. 

In a paroxysm of rage, Billy sprinted after the 
car, to try to carry out his threat against Blythe’s 
head ; but the car still had the legs of him. 

In five minutes Blythe saw that he was thoroughly 
restored to his normal condition, and told Raleigh 
to stop the car. 

Jumping out, he was going to help Billy off with 
his harness ; but the latter came at him with such 
blood in his eye, that Blythe deemed it the part of 
wisdom to put the car between himself and this un- 
willing beneficiary of his. 

He tore around the car, and Billy after him. 
Round and round they went, Blythe’s long legs 
keeping him out of danger, but the two still tied 
together by the rope. Finally Billy began hauling 
in on the rope, hand over hand, as he ran. 

Blythe tried to disentangle himself from his end 
of the rope, and Merk jumped out and joined in 
the game, barking loudly, and trying to make out 
just what they were all up to. 

The sight of the short-legged Billy and the long- 
legged Blythe in this intense merry-go-round, with 


HARNESSED FOR LIFE 


153 


Merk frisking about their heels, now almost tripping 
up the one and then the other, was too much for 
Raleigh, and he howled with laughter — which only 
made Billy the madder. He wanted to lick both of 
them at once, and every time he came around Ra- 
leigh’s side of the car, aimed a gunning punch at 
his chum in passing. 

The comedy only came to an end when Billy was 
completely blown — and quite hot. Blythe himself 
felt no vestige of cold, and Raleigh was doubled 
over the wheel, weak with laughter. 

I say, Billy, I saved your life,” protested the 
newspaper man in an injured tone. 

Gradually, as his breath came back to him, Billy’s 
usual grin returned to his face. He held out a hand 
to the man he had been so vigorously pursuing. 

I guess you ’re right, old man. You certainly 
have warmed me up pretty thoroughly.” 

With some suspicion, Blythe accepted the prof- 
fered hand. 

And now let ’s harness up Raleigh,” Billy added, 
his eyes twinkling. 

I ’m game — if it will make me as warm as you 
two.” 

And while the extreme cold lasted, all three of 
them found Blythe’s device most useful in restoring 
their circulation by what its inventor called invol- 
untary exercise.” 


CHAPTER XXXIII 


THE LIGHT OF ASIA A 

From bleakest winter, the Phoenix Bird encoun- 
tered a breath of summer in California, and its crew 
thawed out sufficiently to take an interest in the ^ 
other contestants in the race. They should not have j 
complained of the weather, however, for while the 
conditions had been arctic in severity the little car 
had managed to pass all their rivals, one after the 
other. 

They arrived in San Francisco worn and weather- ’ 
beaten, but a happy trio — or rather, a quartette ; . 
for though little has lately been said of Merk, he 
was an important part of the expedition, and as a 
foot-warmer alone was worth the trouble of bringing 
him along. 

The day after their arrival, the Liebig y snorting 
like a leviathan, came hurtling into the city, and the 
next day the Ischia and the Briquette — all three in 
time to sail by the Light of Asia with the Phoenix^ 
Bird, 

More than half the cars, by this time, had broken 
down, or turned back in disgust of the roads ; the 
Dixie came racing up, just after the Light of Asia 


155 


THE LIGHT OF ASIA 

had left her dock, and half a day behind it the 
Gowfer^s Goer was plodding doggedly along. 

For four days the Pacific Ocean well deserved its 
name. Its glassy surface was smooth and unruffled. 
The steamer was as steady as a Hudson Eiver boat, 
and it was a positive joy for all the drivers — after 
the cramping confinement of the motor-cars — to 
romp about the deck, play games, or lie luxuriously 
outstretched in deck chairs and again revel in the 
pleasure of books and magazines. 

Beside the contestants and the correspondents 
there were only a few Japanese merchants on board, 
who kept pretty much to themselves, jabbering their 
incomprehensible lingo, two missionaries and their 
families, and a dozen ordinary travelers, of whom a 
couple of Englishmen were forever getting up pools 
on the day’s run. 

Opposite Raleigh at table sat a little old French 
Canadian, very bald and bent, with a white flowing 
beard. He was quite feeble and wore smoked glasses. 
He took a keen interest in all the conversation that 
flew about among the various motorists. There was 
a lot of good-natured joshing as to what the big 
cars would do to the Phoenix Bird, when they once 
got on good roads. 

You hops along on your one leg pretty goot, ofer 
der rocks und tings of America,” said Lauterworter, 
but shust vait ! Ven ve comes to vat is a r-roac?, ve 
leaves you like you haf your vun leg cut off.” 


156 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


The old French Canadian turned timidly to 
Raleigh : — 

Eet is ze smalles’ car you haf ? ” he asked. ^^Did 
zey mek you tek ze small one because you were not 
so beeg as ze uzzer drivers? Oh! zat is a shame!” 

Well, they haven’t beaten us yet,” Raleigh 
answered. 

And if there ’d been another boat sailing sooner, 
they wouldn’t be up with us,” Billy put in. 

Bravo ! bravo ! You beat zem yet,” and the old 
man blinked cheerfully through his glasses. 

When they went on deck after dinner, a lovely 
moon, nearly full, shone down from a cloudless sky 
upon the placid sea. Raleigh went forward, and 
stood in the prow, looking out over the gleaming 
ocean, wrapped in his own thoughts. What success 
or failure awaited them beyond this glistening ex- 
panse? And he was not thinking of the race. 

Presently he heard the tap, tap, of a cane, and 
the little French Canadian joined him. For a time 
the latter leaned over the bulwark, beside Raleigh, 
without speaking. 

What must zis beauty be to a yong man ! ” he 
said at length in a hushed tone. You haf a hard 
journey, but what triomph may arrive to you ! ” 

Yes, it is good to have something big to do,” 
Raleigh assented. 

The little old man nodded his head vigorously. 

also haf somezing beeg to do. I haf to seek some 


THE LIGHT OF ASIA 


157 


one of whom you remind me much — my grandson, 
Armand. Heem I haf lost in ze beeg world.” He 
heaved a long sigh. 

Is that why you are going to Japan ? ” Raleigh 
asked. He felt great sympathy for the old chap, 
without knowing how to express it. 

Yes. He was a lad like you, when he went 
away. He was ze only grandson, and ze only rela- 
tive remnant to me. He goes to ze war in Afrique 
du Sud. Zere he is brav’ — zey mek him s,ergeant. 
He like fighting — he go on to Japan to bat Russia. 
He is brav’ again. He go in front — is mek prison- 
ier — I hear no more of him. Now I tek ze money 
I haf save for my old age and I go search for him.” 
wish I could help you,” said Raleigh, ^^but — ” 

Yes, I know. You are generous, but you haf ze 
race — you cannot turn aside.” 

It ’s not that,” Raleigh answered slowly. ‘‘ I — ” 
Almost he confided to this kindly old fellow the 
real reason why he could think of nothing else than 
the quest he was on. 

There was a pause. In the glorious, golden moon- 
shine they stood, these two adventurers into the great 
continent of Asia, the young and strong, and the 
old and feeble. It seemed heartless that the strong 
should not offer to aid the weak. 


CHAPTER XXXIV 


WHAT THE HEAVING SEA DISCLOSED 

So occupied had every instant been during the 
arduous journey across the United States ; so thor- 
oughly had every faculty of Raleigh’s been taxed ; 
so many difficulties had to be met and overcome, 
that he had had no time or thought to give to a 
certain duty which now confronted him. 

Blythe must be told the real object of their jour- 
ney. 

Raleigh had not dared to take him into his con- 
fidence at the outset, not knowing what kind of a 
man he was. But now he must be given the oppor- 
tunity to withdraw from the hazardous enterprise, 
if he wished to. 

From day to day Raleigh put off the telling. It 
was not the pleasantest task in the world. Blythe 
could quite justly reproach him for leaving him in 
the dark for so long. And a languorous content- 
ment with his present ease disinclined the young 
fellow to any fresh exertion. 

This mood lasted during the four days of good 
weather. Then came a change. A wind soughed 
through the rigging, and soon afterwards the placid 
bosom of the sea began to heave. 


WHAT THE SEA DISCLOSED 159 


The merry company of the Light of Asia changed 
its complexion, when the steamer rolled and pitched. 
A few swaggered about, unduly proud of their sturdy 
stomachs ; but the majority curdled up like milk in 
a thunderstorm, and sought remote places where 
they could remain in soHtary misery. 

Raleigh, though he had never been on the sea 
before, proved a splendid sailor. Himself without a 
qualm, he viewed poor Billy with alarm. The latter 
was simply prostrated, and moaned and groaned in 
his berth. 

Oh, Billy, is n’t there anything you would like ? ” 
Raleigh asked. 

Yes,” Billy feebly replied, the earth. I ’d hate 
to be buried at sea.” 

He honestly believed he was seeing his last hour, 
and Raleigh flew for the ship’s doctor. 

It ’s only seasickness,” the latter answered with 
cheerful indifference. He will be all right in a few 
days.” 

As for Blythe, though he did not seclude himself, 
he paraded a lugubrious countenance to his little 
world, and shunned the dining-saloon. To any un- 
usual rolling and pitching of the steamer he re- 
sponded by increased pallor and uncertainty of feel- 
ing in his midriff. 

You would n’t think I’d been a sailor before 
the mast, to look at me, would you?” he asked 
whimsically. ^^Well, it was a long time ago, and I 


160 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

remember I was desperately sick at first. But I had 
to get over it then. I was n’t paid to be an invalid. 
Here the steamer provides an attentive steward and 
all the accessories — almost seems as if they wanted 
you to take advantage of them. You ought to try a 
rope’s end or a belaying pin for the malady — the 
way my old captain used to. You ’d be surprised 
how ef&cacious they are.” 

As day after day passed, it seemed as if the sea 
would never become smooth again, as if the sun 
would never again shine, and as if the color of the 
sky were to remain permanently of a dark gray hue, 
making life hardly worth the living. 

On the third miserable day, Raleigh came upon 
Blythe, curled up behind the smokestack. 

“Feeling any better?” he asked. 

The sufferer cocked a semi-humorous eye at him. 

“ If you think I don’t look like the first daft’odil 
of spring, you ought to take a peep at your Cana- 
dian friend. He looks as if they ’d tried to make 
a shredded wheat biscuit of him and had given up 
the job halfway. He ’s just crawled up to the 
smoking-room. Go see if you can’t cheer him up 
a bit.” 

Raleigh went forward to the smoking-room. In a 
few minutes he was back, his face pale, and his voice 
tremulous. 

“ Blythe, come down into our cabin,” he said. 

“What’s the matter, old man?” asked Blythe. 


WHAT THE SEA DISCLOSED 161 

It has come, has it, that nebulous feeling in your 
midst? 

He rose and followed Raleigh to their state- 
room. 

Billy greeted him with some cheerfulness. Glad 
to see you chaps. I ’m feeling a trifle better — but 
this seasickness is surely a powerful thing.” 

Friend Raleigh is just beginning to find that 
out,” Blythe replied. 

Raleigh disregarded the old man’s chaff. Abruptly 
he said : — 

‘^Blythe, there is something you were entitled to 
know at the start; but we could n’t tell you till we 
knew you better.” 

By the seriousness of the tone, the man under- 
stood that it was no joking matter. 

Spit it out ! ” he cried. 

‘^We’re not only racing to Paris — we’re going 
to try to rescue a Russian princess, who ’s a prisoner 
in Siberia.” 

Open-mouthed, Blythe regarded his friend at this 
succinct statement. There was no doubt that Raleigh 
was perfectly sane, and certainly he was in earnest. 
The man glanced at Billy. The latter, as matter-of- 
fact as his chum, threw in : — 

^Ht ’s her father who is paying our expenses.” 

The newspaper man fairly sputtered : I say, you 
might have broken this to me more gently. You will 
finish what ’s left of me. Now do you mind favor- 


162 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


ing me with a few details of this preposterous 
affair?” 

Briefly Raleigh related all the circumstances to 
the other, adding : And the worst thing I ’ll tell 
you now. When I went into the smoking-room to 
see if I could do anything for that poor, little, old 
French Canadian who has been fathering me, I 
found him huddled in a corner, half-dead, his glasses 
on the floor, his head on his arm, and wobbling about 
as the ship rolled. He did n’t hear me, and I was 
just about to speak to him when that long white 
beard of his came off 

Billy sat up in bed with such vigor that his head 
gave a cruel bump to the upper berth. 

^‘Yes. and he was talking to himself in German, 
^ Ach ! du liver himmel ! ’ he said, and a lot more I 
could n’t catch. But I recognized him. He was 
Kotzalki!^^ 

Did he see you ? ” Blythe asked, when he had 
caught his breath. 

No. You just bet I slipped out in a hurry.” 

^^What a ^Sunday Special’ this would make — 
and I can’t use a word of it,” the newspaper man 
exclaimed. 


CHAPTER XXXV 

Blythe’s sign language, in japan 

For a minute an air of consternation pervaded 
the cabin. It was somewhat dissipated by the view 
taken by the correspondent : — 

‘^You’re really making this interesting for me,” 
he said. Here I enter an innocent little race, and 
believe the worst things ahead of me are cold and 
fatigue and hunger, and snow-blindness, and per- 
haps wolves or bandits or infuriated peasants, and 
now you run in an imprisoned princess on me and 
a Russian spy ready and eager to put us all out of 
business. You’re doing yourselves proud. May I, 
as a plain man, and a seasick one at that, ask if 
there are any more complications ? ” 

Raleigh shook his head. No, that ’s the crop.” 

Well, I am glad. Now can you go on holding 
hands with the resourceful Kotzalki for the rest of 
the voyage ? ” 

I guess so — though I ’d rather punch his head 
for making me so sorry for him. How he could 
make himself look so small and weak beats me.” 

^^It was the stoop of the shoulders, the tap-tap- 
ping cane, and the tremulous voice.” 


164 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

^‘At least, he won’t be able to fool us again,” j 
Billy remarked. 

Remember, it ’s mighty important that be , 
doesn’t suspect that you suspect him,” Blythe ad- 
monished. 

Raleigh, however, saw little of the spy during the 
rest of the voyage. It continued rough until Japan 
was reached, and although Billy and Blythe gained 
their sea-legs, Kotzalki remained susceptible to the 
motion of the ship, and had no energy to continue 
to play his part of the pathetic old man in search of 
a grandson. 

As soon as they landed he disappeared, and they 
were too busy trying to keep up with the other cars 
to give much thought to him. 

In the run through Japan the Phoenix Bird was 
aided by circumstances which none of the motorists 
had reckoned on. As soon as the large towns were 
left behind, the roads dwindled in width to the 
needs of the local traffic. They became little more 
than bridle-paths, though their surface was gener- 
ally excellent. This necessitated very careful driving 
on the part of the large cars. In the mountainous 
districts it became really perilous, especially at the 
turns in the road, round some of which their outer 
wheels had actually to he lifted. 

In addition, the flimsy bridges, which sufficed for 
the primitive requirements of the Japanese, were not 
intended for heavy motor-cars. Even near the cities 


BLYTHE’S SIGN LANGUAGE 165 


they creaked and swayed, like wickerwork. Farther 
out in the country they became slimmer and more 
delicate still, and often had to be reinforced before 
the four-wheeled cars could trust themselves to them 
— even when stripped of all stores and superfluous 
parts. 

Here the lighter weight of the Phoenix Bird 
counted to its great advantage. Although it had, 
naturally, been left behind at the outset, it caught 
up with the Liebig, and sped over a bridge which a 
small army of workmen were strengthening for that 
monster. 

Next day it overtook the Ischia near the top of 
a mountain pass. The latter was drawn up at a tea- 
house awaiting the report of a scout sent forward to 
measure the width of the descent ahead. 

There now only remained the Briquette in front 
of the Phoenix Bird, 

I wish we knew how far ahead of us she is,” 
Billy said. I had no idea you ’d feel so queer when 
you could n’t make a soul understand you.” 

It was Raleigh’s and Billy’s first experience in 
traveling through a country of whose language they 
were unable to speak a word. It gave them a unique 
feeling of helplessness. 

Though Blythe did not know Japanese either, 
this dismayed him no whit. 

I ’ll ask,” he volunteered. 

You ! But how can you ? ” 


166 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


^^Just watch me make signs to them/’ he said 
loftily. Fingers were made before words. When 
you open your mouth and pat your stomach, it 
means you want something to eat all the world 
over.” 

Might n’t it mean you were seasick ? ” Billy 
asked, with vivid recollections of recent experiences. 

Not on land, you gooney. Keep your eye on 
your uncle, and you ’ll pick up the principles of sign 
language in short order. I’ll just tackle the next 
native we meet.” 

The chance to test his vaunted powers was soon 
afforded. A group of excited Japanese appeared. 
They scrambled to the side of the road, gesticulating 
and shouting. 

‘‘ Stop the car ! ” Blythe commanded. 

The natives immediately surrounded it, jabbering 
away like a troop of monkeys. 

Hey ! ” shouted Blythe, standing up, and 
stretching his arm out in an imperative gesture. 

The Japanese stood hushed and awed. 

Blythe pointed to the Phoenix Birdy and then in 
front of them. Then he held up one finger. 

They nodded violently, while a torrent of utterly 
unintelligible remarks flowed from them. 

Hey 1 ” shouted Blythe again, and again silence 
answered to the magic word. ^ 

He got out of the car, and walked busily up the 
road. They trooped behind him. Then he stopped. 


BLYTHE’S SIGN LANGUAGE 167 


and held up one finger — two fingers — three fin- 
gers, with a questioning lift of the eyebrows. They 
looked puzzled. He repeated it several times, until 
finally comprehension came to the face of one of the 
men, and grinning and bobbing his head, he pointed 
forward, and held up one finger. 

They say the Briquette is only one hour ahead 
of us,” he announced calmly, as he climbed into the 
car again. That means an hour of their walking, 
so it can’t be far.” 

Well, that was clever of youl” Billy cried, very 
much impressed. 

Oh, that’s nothing. I can make any one under- 
stand simple things like that,” Blythe replied con- 
descendingly. Ask me something harder.” 

Whether the natives and the lank American had 
managed to communicate their thoughts by means 
of signs, or whether it was only a coincidence, in a 
short time the car caught up with the Briquette, 
which was halted, as the Liebig had been, by one 
of those exasperatingly flimsy bridges which was 
just too weak to bear its weight. 

Flushed with the elation of again being in the 
lead, Billy, who was at the wheel, put the Plujenix 
Bird full speed at the bridge, and the httle car took 
it as a thoroughbred might a water-jump. 

The bridge screamed its protest in every joint, 
but held ; and the Bird flew up the opposite slope 
as if conscious that once more an opportunity was 


168 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

offered of which it must make the most. A vivid | 
stream of French objurgations followed in its wake. | 

“ That was a near thing — that last bridge. They ■ 
seem to get worse with every mile/’ Billy remarked. ' 
If they keep on deteriorating, we shall have to be- 
gin patching them up ourselves.” 

Billy’s prophecy proved all too true. Within two 
hours they came upon one whose appearance brought 
them to a halt. The three climbed out of the car to 
inspect it. Beneath their weight it swayed dizzily. 
Manifestly it would never, in its present condition, 
support the car. 

“ It will take more than the sign language to put 
that right,” said Raleigh despondently. 

Oh ! I don’t know about that.” Blythe had 
gone up on a little hill, and had seen the tops of 
some houses over the brow of the next rise. ‘‘ I ’ll 
see if I can’t get some Japs to do quick repair 
work on this bridge.” 

He strode away, leaving the others considerably 
encouraged by his discovery. In a short time he re- 
turned, with the tread of a conquering hero, some 
fifty natives at his heels. 

He pointed to the gyrocar. 

They regarded it with awe. 

He sprang upon the bridge, and jumped up and 
down. 

The creaks and tremblings were most ominous, 
but they did not impress his audience. Probably 


BLYTHE’S SIGN LANGUAGE 169 

they thought that was the way a bridge should act 
when one bounced about on it. 

Next he went around below the bridge, seized 
one of the supports and shook it violently. 

Then he produced a handful of silver, pointed 
alternately to the bridge, to the car, and jingled the 
money enticingly. 

They looked at the coins in Blythe’s hands and 
they looked at the bridge. With much jabbering 
they consulted together for a few minutes, then 
rushed off to their village and returned with axes 
and crowbars. 

They pointed inquiringly at the bridge and at 
their tools. 

‘‘ That ’s the idea, my hearties,” exclaimed Blythe ; 

now the quicker you set to work, the bigger bonus 
you ’ll earn for extra speed.” 

As if they understood his words, they rushed at 
the bridge, with joyous whoops, and began hacking 
away at it. 

‘‘ Hold on there — hey — not that ! ” 

Blythe had to rush around like mad for a minute 
to save the bridge from complete demolishment. He 
finally managed to drive them off, and stood breath- 
less, on guard like Horatius at the bridge, while the 
natives clustered together in a puzzled knot. 


CHAPTER XXXVl 


AN AMATEUR SUSPENSION BRIDGE 

The situation would have been funny had it not 
been so serious. Sign language was failing them at 
a critical moment. Raleigh realized fully that, in 
order to stand the faintest chance in the final stages 
of the race, it was imperative to gain a long lead on 
their high-powered competitors while snow and nar- 
row roads and perilous passes neutralized the value 
of this high power. 

Once already chance had robbed them of the 
advantage they had gained. Now they must some- 
how manage to reach Vladivostock long before the 
others. 

While the unfortunate Blythe was struggling with 
native stupidity, Raleigh’s inventive brain had been 
busily trying to solve the difficulty along other lines. 
He hated to begin the bridge-strengthening process 
forced upon the other cars. It meant such a tremen- 
dous waste of time at every weakling bridge ; and 
half a dozen of these might be encountered in a day. 

The road made a sharp bend just at the bridge, 
and on the other side of the road stood a tree, in 
line with the bridge. 


AN AMATEUR BRIDGE 171 

He called the hot and disgusted correspondent to 
him. 

I think we can get over without building up 
that bridge, if you can make signs to them to bring 
a long heavy rope.” 

I don’t beheve I could make these fool Japs take 
a gold dollar if I held it out to them on a platter,” 
Blythe answered. But I ’ll try.” 

He took a small piece of rope, showed it to the 
eager natives, and stretched his arms wide, as one 
does to indicate great size to a child. 

An intelligent light came into the faces of the 
Japs, and they trotted off toward their village. 

Come ; that looks hopeful,” Raleigh said. 

I guess I ’ll go along with them,” Blythe an- 
swered gloomily. I misdoubt me they will bring 
back a potato-masher instead.” 

In half an hour he returned in high spirits, the 
Japanese carrying a big coil of rope. 

The two boys had not been idle during his absence, 
and the Pkmiix Bird stood at the edge of the bridge 
denuded of its tires. 

Going to tie the rope to the car, so that if she 
goes through the bridge you can haul her out 
again ? ” Blythe asked. 

The boys shook their heads. They tied one end of 
the rope firmly to the tree, and laid it from there 
across the bridge. 

Help us lift the Bird on to the rope.” 


172 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


When this was done, the rims of the wheels fitted 
loosely over the rope, and Raleigh’s scheme began 
to dawn on the newspaper man. 

Now, get the Japs to take hold of the other end 
of the rope and pull as hard as they can, and we ’ll 
have a kind of amateur suspension bridge,” Raleigh 
said with sparkling eyes. 

And the next car that comes along will have to 
invent its own way of getting over — hey ? ” Blythe 
exclaimed jubilantly. 

It was not difficult to indicate to the villagers that 
they should grasp hold of the end of the rope and 
pull. A hundred willing hands stretched it so taut 
that a good share of the car’s weight was taken from 
the bridge. 

There was a whirring of the motor, a sudden leap 
forward, and the Phoenix Bird was halfway across 
the bridge. 

It was lucky that Raleigh had made a quick start, 
for the natives evidently had formed no conception 
of what was about to happen. In frozen terror, for 
a few seconds, they mechanically clutched the rope. 
Then, as the car bore down upon them, like a devour- 
ing monster, they fled in all directions with piteous 
howls of fear. 


CHAPTER XXXVII 


OFF TO VLADIVOSTOCK 

Luckily the car was safely over the bridge before 
the Japs loosed their hold of the rope. 

The transformation was surprisingly complete. 
The three Americans could hardly believe that this 
scene of desertion had been so animated a few seconds 
before. While they were putting back the tires on 
the wheels, they discussed how they could pay their 
vanished helpers. And,” said Raleigh, ‘‘ I want to 
buy that rope, too. There will be other bridges to 
use it on, and it ought to save us at least a half-day 
at each of them.” 

We’d better fasten it to heavy stakes, or some- 
thing,” Billy reflected. ^^Next time they might let 
go when we were only halfway across.” 

The Phoenix Bird was ready to depart, and they 
were about to leave a little heap of coin by the road- 
side, hoping that it might reach the right persons, 
when Blythe exclaimed : — 

Hi ! there is a sign of life.” 

The others looked, but saw nothing. 

He ducked as soon as I caught sight of him.” 

Presently the sleek head of the boldest of the 
villagers peeped forth from behind a rock. 


174 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

Here ! take this, with my compliments.” 

Blythe tossed a copper, and the head vanished 
again, as if a bomb had been thrown at it; but 
when the copper did not explode, the brave fellow 
gradually oozed into view, irresistibly attracted by the 
coin. 

Other heads shortly appeared, and when it became 
known that a distribution of wealth was going on, 
the place fairly teemed with them. 

If I were of a suspicious nature, I should say that 
there were more men around us receiving a reward 
than had pulled on that rope,” murmured Blythe. 

The mob became so dense and clamorous — even 
a bit threatening — that Raleigh deemed it advisa- 
ble to let them listen to the music of the cut-out. 
At its hissing snorts a fresh access of terror seized 
upon the natives, and in a few seconds the land was 
deserted. 

The rope, which Blythe had found no difficulty 
in buying, with sign-language and silver, formed a 
considerable addition to their load ; but during the 
rest of the run through the wilder part of Japan it 
was of great service to them. Seven times did they 
utilize it to help bear them over weak bridges, and 
each of these meant a gain on their opponents. 

In the highest spirits they trundled into Akita, 
and made eager inquiries about the next steamer to 
Vladivostock. 

The Japanese are a notably polite people. They 


175 


OFF TO VLADIVOSTOCK 

hate to disappoint an anxious inquirer. They assured 
Raleigh, in their odd, half-swallowed English, that a 
steamer would very soon be ready to take him and 
his friends to Vladivostock. But one day passed, 
another came, and their manners only became more 
polite and deprecatory, while no steamer was yet 
ready to sail. 

It is easy to imagine the impatient hours spent by 
our three travelers. They appealed to the American 
consul. He was a man who had passed some forty 
years in various parts of the East, and had come to 
have a thoroughly Oriental attitude of disbelief in 
the value of haste. 

Oh, there will be a steamer by and by,” he as- 
sured them. ‘‘ Better take it easy while you can.” 

On the afternoon of the third day the Ischia 
reached town. 

Antonio Rusticano grinned when he saw the 
Americans. 

^^Vera kinda thingue — you waita for us. We 
waita for you also, sometime — Paris, maybe.” 

Swallowing his chagrin, Blythe asked after the 
other two cars. 

Briquctta — impetuous Frenchaman — no wait 
for workmen — go through bridga — now wait long 
time. Yes, vera sad ! ” 

The Italian’s eyes held an impudent twinkle as he 
pretended to weep at the news he was relating. 

And the Liebig ? ” 


176 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


German — too mucha weigh. Go through bridga, 
too. Now we two make race, Vladivostock to Paris. 
Whata you say — ^best man winna.’ ” 

Alas ! there was small doubt who would be the 
best man over the good roads of Europe. 

One satisfaction only the Americans now had : to 
watch the Italian crew grow hourly more wild with im- 
patience to be gone, lest the other cars catch up with 
them. And just before the long-promised steamer 
was ready to sail, the Briquette appeared. Tizaine, 
her driver, was in the highest of spirits at his good 
fortune, not only in overtaking the leaders, but in 
shaking off at last the dangerous lAehig. 


CHAPTER XXXVIII 


RUSSIAN OFFICIALS 

If the spy was still on their track, they were unable 
to discover him on the steamer General Kuropatkin, 
although Billy and Blythe spent some time sleuthing 
about, seeking to pierce possible disguises. 

When they arrived at Vladivostock, they encoun- 
tered such a fresh crop of troubles as to make them 
forget even the spy. 

The officials of the Russian Government did not 
take an enlightened view of motor-racing, and re- 
fused to let them proceed. They looked upon the 
hardy drivers, whom the rest of the world had united 
to lionize, with open disfavor. 

They asked why they wished to come here. 

Tizaine explained that they were racing. 

Well, if they wished to race, why did they not 
stay at home and do so ? Was there not room enough 
in their own country ? If not, why race at all ? 

Antonio Rusticano in vain tried to show them 
that it was to display the capabilities of motor-cars. 

Why should any one try to do that in Asia? 
The country had gone on for centuries with little 
springless carts, drawn by little horses. Why, all at 


178 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

once, should there be a need of these strange, self- 
propelled vehicles ? 

We are opening up new fields,’’ put in Blythe. 

The officials scowled. Opening up new fields ! ” 
The Czar’s dominions were not fields to be opened 
up ” ! There was something very disrespectful in the 
phrase. Opened up ” ! — as if it were an oyster ! 

Did these foreigners think that they were better 
than their fathers, to invent things which they never 
thought of inventing ? They sneered. The world was 
coming to a pretty pass, when men thought they had 
a right to invent whatever came into their heads. 

But this is a wonderful invention ! ” Tizaine 
cried, all aquiver. 

ould the reign of the Little Father be more 
secure for this invention ? On the contrary, inven- 
tions were pernicious things : like education and 
Socialism, they tended to unsettle men’s minds. 

Luckily those who had promoted this race had 
already reached more intelligent quarters in St. 
Petersburg, and one day there came a telegram 
across the wilds of Asia which entirely changed the 
attitude of the Vladivostock officials. It rendered 
them subservient friendliness itself. They forgot 
their objections. The contestants were assured that 
papers would shortly be forthcoming, which would 
make their passage through the Czar’s dominion 
easy, though — with a shrug — the polite officials 
could not understand how any intelligent human 


RUSSIAN OFFICIALS 


179 


being could contemplate setting out at this time of 
year for such a journey, when there was the possi- 
bility of going by steamer or rail. 

At least,” urged a benign old gentleman who 
had been the most stubbornly opposed of all before 
the arrival of the important telegram, — ^^at least 
wait for a few months until the summer sets in. It 
is mild to-day, but it will become cold again.” 

What have we especially to fear at this time of 
year ? ” Raleigh asked. 

It has been an unusually hard winter. The wolves 
may eat you up. It would be disastrous to your enter- 
prise.” 

‘‘ Yes, it would rather,” Raleigh laughed. What 
else is there ? ” 

There are bandits. Bands of them — very fero- 
cious — infest the country. If you should come upon 
them — pouf ! ” 

‘‘ And the roads ? ” ^ 

Roads ! Bah ! There will come snow — and there 
wdll be no roads.” 

This last piece of information was most encourag- 
ing to the American. And for the rest, Raleigh had 
learned, early in this journey, that most men know 
the roads within five miles of their own doorsteps. 
Beyond this little horizon, they take delight 
painting difficulties in most lurid colors. 

Since arriving at Vladivostock, Blythe had been 
studying his maps at every spare moment. Don’t 


180 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

catch me trusting to the directions of the intelligent 
native — especially when I can’t understand what he 
says.” 

When at last they received their papers and fared 
forth from Vladivostock, they found that in one re- 
spect, at least, the old official had not misled them. 
They had plunged back into the depth of winter, 
after 'the comparative mildness of Japan and the 
ocean voyage. Luckily their way lay much through 
dense forests, which protected them somewhat from 
the cold. 

They had started out with a guide ; hut his igno- 
rance proved so appalling that they discarded him 
after the second day. 

On the third it began to snow, and before the day 
was over, the Ischia and the Briquette, which had 
been leading, were completely stalled. 

It was but a half-hour’s job to put the Phoenix 
Bird back on runners. 

^^Now, old girl,” said Billy, patting the car, it ’s 
your innings again.” 

Antonio Rusticano waved to them cheerfully, 
when they passed him. 

Gooda-bye ! ” he said. I sita here now like — 
whata you say ? — like a bum’ on a log ” ; and the 
last thing they heard through the wintry air was his 
fine barytone voice raised up in the tuneful song, 
which he rendered, In the gooda summertime.” 


CHAPTER XXXIX 


THE SENTINELS 

After this there is little to tell for many days. 
It was plain, hard, uninteresting work. 

They passed safely over the terrible savannahs ” 
of Manchuria — those bottomless morasses with their 
thin quaking crust of dried mud — frozen sfed. 

When they penetrated into Siberia the country 
became wilder and more lonely. The snow had been 
succeeded by a thaw, and that again by a heavy 
frost, and the result was a crust over which the gyro- 
car could proceed more swiftly than at any other 
time in the race. And for twenty hours out of the 
twenty-four did they stick to their seats. They would 
not have rested at all had not utter exhaustion forced 
them to. 

At every village — and they became less and less 
frequent — rumors were rife about the ferocity and 
boldness of the wolves. The snow-crust was so strong 
that it enabled the natural prey of the wolves to es- 
cape them ; and this had rendered them so desper- 
ate in their hunger that they even entered towns to 
attack men. But the crew of the gyrocar were too 
fagged by their continuous labors to pay any atten- 


182 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


tion to these reports, especially since they had as yet 
not seen a single wolf. 

Their discarded guide’s place was well taken by 
extra supplies of gasolene and food. The everlasting 
grind continued, mile after mile, hour after hour, 
day after day, till it seemed to the weary trio as if 
it would never end. 

Sometimes the country was open, and the fierce 
winds made the sight of the miserable villages where 
they were to spend their short hours of rest welcome 
— even with the execrable accommodations which 
they ki#w awaited them there. At other times, the 
country became more broken, and forests shut them 
in. 

On the last day of February the cold snap gave 
no signs of changing to the premonitions of spring. 
The trail led through the wildest country they yet 
had seen in Asia. 

Blythe, who had been sitting in a comatose condi- 
tion for an hour, raised his head and sniffed about 
him. 

shouldn’t wonder if our old Russian friend 
knew a little what he was talking about, after all. 
This has a decidedly wolfy look to me. There is one 
comfort, though, the beast that gnaws my bones 
will feel that he’s been buncoed. Now, Billy will be 
quite a tidbit. That reminds me of one time, on the 
Yukon — Hullo ! Look at that ! ” 

It was a wolf without doubt ; but instead of giv- 


183 


THE SENTINELS 

ing any sign of attacking them, it put its tail between 
its legs, and fled away with melancholy howls. 

Merk 1 Come here ! ” 

The collie had made a leap from the moving car, 
and had the wildest desire to pursue the flying wolf. 

Raleigh laughed. Merk seems able to put a wolf 
to flight easily enough.” 

The older man shook his head. I know those ani- 
mals well,” he said. That ’s a pup without any sense. 
Just wait till his ma and pa get to discussing us. 
They ’re likely to take a different view of the situa- 
tion.” 

The other two were not much troubled by the 
supposition. 

Before an hour had passed, however, they began 
to think that there was more in Blythe’s words than 
they had suspected. On each hill they came to, they 
saw a solitary wolf, sitting motionless, and watching 
them intently. As they sped by, he would lift up 
his head and emit a long-drawn-out howl that went 
wailing out over the wilderness. 

After the fourth sentinel, they fancied a change 
in the wolf’s notes. There was a more hopeful tone, 
as if the wolves were saying that, although the queer 
contrivance itself did not look edible, it contained 
three fat furry specimens. 

‘‘ Do you notice those wolves watching us now ? ” 
Blythe asked. ‘‘ None of your pups ! Gray-beards, 
every one of them. You can take it from me they ’re 


184 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


sizing us up for the good of the clan. I tell you a 
wolf ’s got more sense than many a man — and the 
appetite of an Esquimo.” 

Raleigh, without a word, put on all the speed that 
was possible on an unknown trail ; but this manoeuvre, 
instead of making for their safety, seemed to con- 
vince the watching wolves that the gyrocar was 
fleeing in fear, and short, imperious howls were passed 
from hill to hill, like the commands of a general as- 
sembling kis army. 

That this was, indeed, the case was made plain by 
answering howls from all quarters, rapidly converging 
on the trail in front. 

Lucky we ’re well armed,” Billy muttered. 

Yes, if we can make them come at us one at a 
time, and in a straight line,” Blythe said sarcastically. 

If they happen to attack us a hundred at once, as 
they may be inconsiderate enough to do, well ” — he 
shrugged his shoulders — I ’m sorry for the prin- 
cess.” 

Presently he added : Do you know how quick a 
wolf is ? He ’s quicker than lightning — and that ’s 
quicker than a bullet. The Ishquod Indians in Alaska 
swear that a wolf can dodge the bullet from a rifle, 
if he sees it coming.” 

These were the last words spoken for some min- 
utes. The howls of the sentinel wolves were answered 
by cheerful yelps. Dark gray forms could be seen 
slithering along on both sides of them at a speed 


THE SENTINELS 


185 


which made Blythe’s claims as to their quickness seem 
not preposterous. 

The trail here ran along a deep gorge, with the 
hills edging down closer and closer to it. A hurricane 
of the year before had uprooted many of the largest 
trees, and left them lying about in all positions. 
Luckily the trail had been cleared of them, or the 
gyrocar would have been caught like a rabbit in a 
trap. 

As mile after mile passed, the three white-faced 
Americans could not understand why the wolves de- 
layed attacking them. Two of them began to take 
a more hopeful view of the situation. Only Blythe 
continued to believe that all signs must be interpreted 
as sinister. 

They discovered the reason for the immunity they 
had thus far enjoyed upon rounding a thick mass of 
spruces. A quarter of a mile in front of them rose a 
huge rock, overhanging the trail they had to follow, 
which here passed upon the very brink of the gorge. 
This rock was black with hundreds of wolves of 
the fiercest aspect, their tongues slavering, and their 
snarling lips drawn back from fangs which gleamed 
in the sunshine. They ’re going to jump down 
on us as we pass,” shrieked Billy. 

I told you they had sense,” muttered Blythe, ar- 
gumentative triumph in his tones, though his cheeks 
were blanched. 

Instinctively Raleigh brought the car to a stop. 


186 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

Suddenly he leaned forward, and turned on the power 
again. 

Be ready with your guns ! ” he cried. We Ve 
got one chance in a thousand.’’ 


CHAPTER XL 


A BATTLE ROYAL 

There was that in Raleigh’s voice which gave cour- 
age to his companions, though they could see no pos- 
sible way of escape. Their weapons in their hands, 
grimly they waited for the wolves to come within so 
short a range that the bullets could not fail to find 
their mark. 

Raleigh drove the gyrocar forward into what 
seemed certain destruction. Yet, strangely enough, 
he did not put on all speed, to dash past the rock. 
Rather he was feeling his way carefully, in his eyes 
a light of desperate hope. 

Within twenty-five feet of the rock where the 
wolves were massed, a monster pine tree — straight 
and branchless — had been blown down by the hurri- 
cane, and had fallen diagonally across the gorge. 
One of its tremendous uptorn roots formed an in- 
clined plane to the smooth trunk, with not too sharp 
an angle at the juncture of the root. 

At the moment when the wolves were already 
crouching to spring, Raleigh made a sharp turn to 
the left and drove the gyrocar up the root of the 
pine tree. 


18B TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

il^was a madman’s act. There was a convulsive 
twist of the steering-runner, as the trunk itself was 
reached, and a second later a grinding jar as the 
brakes were put on hard. 

It all happened so quickly that some of the wolves 
— timing their jump for the car as it should pass 
beneath them — sprang from the rock. Then there 
arose a mob-howl of bestial rage from the mass of 
the brutes, and, like a swarm of bees brushed from a 
tree, they dropped from the rock and made for the 
gyrocar. 

His hair bristling on his neck, Merk was about to 
rush out on the tree to hold it against the horde of 
enemies. 

‘‘ Keep back, Merk ! ” Blythe shouted, grabbing 
the dog. Then to the wolves, One at a time, please ! ” 
he called out politely, as if directing a crowd of sight- 
seers, — and one at a time it had to be; for on the 
tree trunk there was not room for the wolves to 
attack them except single file, nor was there room 
for them to dodge the bullets from the magazine 
rifles. 

Rage and hunger prompted them to come on as 
fast as they could crowd up on the pine. But the 
tremendous power of the guns — which could pierce 
twenty-two inches of solid oak — bored through the 
wolves, from end to end, a trunkful at a time. In 
their death agonies, each wolf fastened his fangs in 
the rump of the wolf ahead of him, and like huge 



BEATING OFF THE WOLVES 






A BATTLE ROYAL 189 

strings of sausages they rolled into the gorge 
below. 

One gun could easily attend to all their enemies 
who could approach along the tree trunk ; so Blythe 
and Raleigh began to direct their fire into the clus- 
tered gray mass on the bank. So crowded together 
were the animals, and so much interested in the at- 
tempt of their champions to force the passage of 
the tree trunk, that each bullet would slay from two 
to seven. 

It took a half-hour of slaughter for the ferocious 
beasts to reahze that not only had their prey escaped 
them, but that they themselves were in danger of 
annihilation. A short period of hesitancy followed, 
and then the howl of defeat and retreat was sounded 
by those of the leaders who remained alive. 

In a second every living wolf was in full flight, 
tail between legs, and the fear of instant death send- 
ing him scudding away like a wraith before a hur- 
ricane. They did not even stop to eat their dead 
comrades, as is their custom. 

The gyrocar, with its passengers, spent the night 
on the trunk of the pine tree which had saved their 
lives. The battle occurred toward the end of the 
afternoon, and the sun had set soon afterwards. Usu- 
ally they continued their journey for hours after 
nightfall, the light of their lamps on the snow mak- 
ing the path almost as light as day. But to-night 
they very soon realized that getting the gyrocar 


190 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 




safely off the tree trunk was a job of unusual diffi- 
culty. Raleigh had driven the car up on it, under 
the impulse of the intensest emotion. Backing off it, 
in cold blood, was far harder. 

During the night, it was necessary to start up the 
motor, from time to time, to keep the gyroscope, on 
which depended their equihbrium, in motion. That 
there was no danger of their falling asleep and for- 
getting all about it, they learned soon after night- 
fall. They had hardly composed themselves for sleep- 
ing when Merk began to growl, and from the vague 
darkness they heard the sound of some animal snuf- 
fing about, followed by the crunching of bones. Al- 
though it was the dead wolves that were the attrac- 
tion, the men themselves had recently been too near 
such a fate not to shudder as they listened. Later, 
when the moon rose, they could make out the forms 
of a number of immense polar bears, feasting on the 
carcasses. After that it seemed as if specimens of 
every carnivorous animal known to these cold regions 
came to the feast. 

^^ This thing is getting on my nerves/’ Blythe ex- 
claimed, when the crunching of bones and the greedy 
snorts of the feeders seemed to fill the air. He took 
his gun, and for the next hour peppered the various 
indistinct forms in the moonlight. He could not tell 
how much damage he did ; but in the morning there 
were no living animals to be seen. All not killed 
by Blythe had either eaten their fill and gone away, 


A BATTLE ROYAL 191 

or had withdrawn before the deadly spitting of the 
rifle. 

They now set to work to escape from their haven 
of refuge. After three hours of useless toil, Raleigh 
stopped the motor. 

There ’s only one way we can manage this, and 
that is to pile up enough wolves in the angle of the 
root here to give us a solid embankment to drive 
over.” 


CHAPTER XLI 


AN UNEXPECTED CHECK 

Laboriously they began to carry the dead wolves 
to the angle of the tree and the root. Merk watched 
them, his bright eyes very wide open, and his tail 
held very high. When he discovered what they were 
doing, he pounced upon the carcass of an immense 
bear, and with violent jerks tried to bring it up to 
the tree. 

The bear had frozen fast in the snow, and at 
first Merk could not budge him, although he nearly 
became frantic with rage when he saw how obsti- 
nately the bear resisted him. 

At length he managed to loosen him from the 
hollow in which he lay embedded ; and with trium- 
phant growling he began tugging him inch by inch 
over the snow. Now and then his feet would slip out 
from under him, and he would ignominiously sit 
down ; or the bear’s fur would give way and he 
would topple backwards head over heels. 

Again and again it seemed as if he could not budge 
the bear another inch, but he never gave up. 

The men laughed till they could not stand up. 
Once Blythe was going to help Merk with his bur- 


AN UNEXPECTED CHECK 193 

den, but the pride of the collie resented this with 
such fierceness that the man was absolutely afraid 
to lay a hand on the dead bear. 

When Merk finally managed to deposit his im- 
mense contribution to the pile, he stood, stiff with 
pride, and barked in turn at each of his friends, as 
much as to say : — 

You bring measly little wolves, but I bring polar 
bears.” 

Kaleigh grabbed him up in his arms and gave him 
a hug. 

Now, that will do for bears, old chap. Just bring 
us up some of these wolves,” pointing to them. And 
Merk was quite content to obey his master. 

All four worked hard until they built up a solid 
rampart. Then Raleigh took his place at the wheel 
again, the motor was started, and the deeply ridged 
driving-wheel began slowly to revolve backward. 
Down over the slippery bodies of the wolves the gyro- 
car crunched its way to the trail. 

Blythe mopped his forehead, damp in spite of the 
cold. 

That was a lively little adventure. I feel ready 
now for bandits, secret police, or anything else this 
blessed country affords.” 

But the newspaper man had invoked forces whose 
strength he had not gauged. On this day the winter 
broke, and a thaw set in. At first the mildness of 
the weather was pleasant, but when the crust began 


194 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


to soften, and then little rivulets to tinkle through 
the forest, the outlook was not propitious. 

For the rest of the day they managed to use the 
runners on the Bird^ but when next morning they 
tried to set out on their journey, the roads were 
found to be impassable. The snow no longer offered 
any support : runner or wheel sank through its 
mushy consistency into the oozy bottomless mud be- 
neath. 

For three days they were kept in the miserable 
village where they had stopped for the night, while 
winter melted — most hterally — into spring. 

The enforced rest, at first, was welcome — espe- 
cially coupled with the knowledge that the Ischia 
and the Briquette were making no more progress 
than themselves. After they had slept and rested 
their fill, after the car had been thoroughly over- 
hauled, after they had splashed around the village 
till they knew every stick and stone in it, there was 
absolutely nothing to do. Then the forced inaction 
began to fret them. Of all forms of boredom none 
has ever been invented to equal a sojourn in a 
Siberian village. 

The wind sprang up on the second day, and its 
ceaseless moaning and soughing put their nerves 
quite on edge. But if it was trying, it at least dried 
up the moisture fast. On the morning of the fourth 
day they were able to set out again — slowly and 
on the low gear. 


AN UNEXPECTED CHECK 195 


On this day they covered fourteen miles, after 
fourteen hours of hard work. 

During the next few days, under sun and wind, 
the road improved noticeably. They now had to 
leave their direct route and bear off to the north, in 
order to reach the village of Irkiwatz, where the 
princess was. The excitement of the beginning of 
the most hazardous part of their journey made them 
oblivious of the fatigue and tedium of these days. 

I Irkiwatz no longer seemed so immeasurably dis- 
; tant as at times it had. On Blythe’s map they found 
I themselves crawling nearer to it. 

The character of the country gradually changed. 
It grew ever drearier and more desolate — ever flat- 
ter and less wooded. Even the trees were stunted, as 
if discouraged at the sterility of the ground. 

My goodness ! What a country this would be 
for a man not to own,” Blythe exclaimed, with a 
heartfelt sigh. If I should inherit a principality of 
this sort of thing, I would travel incognito the rest 
of my life. Yeti suppose if some fool nation tried to 
steal this, Russia would fight for it.” 

Udritilz, three days from the climax of their jour- 
ney, was almost a town. Here, as usual, the chief of 
police called upon them to inspect their papers. 

They had got used to these visits, to the sharp 
questioning of the officials, their suspicious glances 
and their final permission to proceed. The papers 
they were provided with usually changed the 


196 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


haughty representatives of the Czar into affable 
individuals. 

Now the chief looked at their papers. As he read 
on, he pursed up his lips ; then he frowned. He 
turned back to the beginning, and frowned yet 
more deeply. He withdrew into the embrasure of 
the window and examined the papers more minutely. 

The Americans watched him with apprehension. 
The nearer they got to Irkiwatz the more nervous 
they became. 

The official finally turned upon them, and sur- 
veyed them with a Napoleonic attitude of displeas- 
ure. 

“One, two, three,” he said, pointing at each in 
turn. “Where — four?’’ 

“ Four was the guide,” Raleigh answered politely. 
“We had one in the beginning, but he was n’t much 
good, so we gave him up.” 

“We can’t afford to carry any dead weight, you 
know,” Blythe explained. 

“ Dead weight ?” the chief cried, glaring at them. 
“ Where dead weight ? Who ? ” 

It took fifteen minutes’ strenuous explaining to 
satisfy the official on this point. 

“ Perhaps you have not kill anybody,” he finally 
admitted grudgingly. “ But this matter of guide — 
serious ! ” 

Sternly he folded up their papers, and put them 
in his breast-pocket. 


AN UNEXPECTED CHECK 197 

I mil consider case, more long,” he announced 
finally, and to you tell decision in morning. Maybe 
I communicate to Government, St. Petersburg.” 

He was leaving the room, when Raleigh stopped 
him. 

If you have to communicate with St. Peters- 
burg, how long would it take you ? ” 

The official glared at him for this inquiry. Majes- 
tically he replied : — 

I tell cannot. Depends on volume of correspond- 
ence.” 

Correspondence ! ” Raleigh gasped. Why, sir, 
we are in a race, and we want to be gone from here 
early in the morning. A correspondence would make 
us lose.” 

have no race,” the official replied loftily. ^Hn 
morning I to you my decision announce.” 


CHAPTER XLII 




A HUMAN JELLYFISH 


W HEN the official had gone the three looked blankly 
at one another. 

What do you suppose put him up to this dodge ? ” 
Raleigh asked. 

‘^You can search me,” Blythe answered. ^^The 
only things to count on in this country are new and 
unusual forms of stupidity.” 

Their surmises and conjectures led to no conclu- 
sions, and finally they philosophically decided that 
they might as well enjoy a good night’s sleep, in their 
hotel, whose approximation to cleanliness was rare in 
Siberia. 

Judging that the chief of police would not get 
through with his meditations on their case at an early 
hour, they gave themselves the luxury of turning 
over in bed for an extra doze, the next morning. Few 
of us can appreciate what this meant to the three 
worn travelers. 

They had a leisurely though a somewhat anxious 
breakfast. Then they went out and overhauled the 
car. 

As the hours went by and still no chief appeared. 


A HUMAN JELLYFISH 


199 


i they grew more and more troubled, with the burden 
of their secret upon them. 

Just as they were finishing luncheon, he came, 
accompanied by a very odd-looking man. In shape 
i he was a little ball of a head set upon a big ball of 
i a body, with arms and legs attached. His stolid face 
and half-closed pig eyes betrayed no ray of intelli- 
' gence, if he possessed any. There was not a spear 
j of hair on his face, not even in his eyebrows. If he 
had any on the top of his head, it was invisible by 
reason of a dirty nightcap pulled down over his 
ears. 

^‘A Mongol mongrel, if there ever was one,’’ 
Blythe thought. 

j The chief addressed them gravely. 
h I given your case consideration, and I decided 

! me to permit procedure of car, spite your conduct 
irregular — very irregular ! ” 

The three meekly listened to his words, too much 
^ relieved at the main tenor of them, to care whether 
he indulged in a homily on proper conduct or 
\ not. 

j I also you provide with guide, not to have trou- 
i ble similar in coming time.” 

I Had the chief not been so intent on his own 
i speechifying, he could hardly have helped noticing 
the dismayed air which came over his hearers, 
j I ’m sure, it ’s very good of you,” stammered 

: Raleigh, when the chief paused. But couldn’t we 


200 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


dispense with a guide, don’t you think? You see our 
car is n’t very large.” 

^^It should have larger been made then,” the 
chief replied rebukingly. ^‘Your papers describe 
persons four. Grave infraction is to the laws to thus 
only three be.” 

They had not another word to say for themselves, 
but guiltily hung their heads. 

The chief continued : I you supply with ’com- 
plish guide. Knows English — three, four words. 
’Complish man. You have no more trouble with 
police. Now — one, two, three, four — like pa- 
pers.” 

The chief was benignly beaming on them. 

Raleigh felt that their reception of his kindness 
was not what it should have been. 

Does he know the roads well?” he asked, trying 
to infuse a hearty ring to his voice. 

The chief shrugged his shoulders. 

^^Many roads — one guide,” he replied. ^^But 
papers now correct — no more trouble — count one, 
two, three, four — all there.” 

They had to submit, and went out to the Phanix 
Bird. 

Merk, guarding it, sprang to his feet and growled 
at the approach of the guide. 

^^It’s all right, Merk, old boy,” said Blythe, with 
mock cheerfulness. He ’s our guardian angel. He ’ll 
crowd you a bit, but you must n’t bite him or he 


A HUMAN JELLYFISH 


201 


might leave us, and that would disturb the arithmetic 
of the police department.” 

Billy took the dog between his knees on the front 
seat, beside Blythe, who was driving. For some time 
past he had been learning how to run the car. You 
never can tell what may happen,” he had argued; 

and besides, it will be a good thing if I can spell 
you two from time to time.” 

The guide took his place by Raleigh on the bach 
seat, crossed his hands on his fat paunch, shut his 
eyes sleepily, and seemed to think that he had per- 
formed his full duty. 

I guess we might as well find out what his three- 
four words of English are,” Raleigh said. 

Turning to the guide, he asked : — 

^^Do you understand English?” 

The guide opened his eyes, and blinked at his in- 
terlocutor, without answering. 

Speak English?” Raleigh asked again. 

There was the concentrated essence of emptiness 
on the face of the guide. 

He ’d be a hard man to interview,” the news- 
paper man remarked. Try him again with words 
of one syllable.” 

Where — go?” Raleigh shouted. 

This time the guide’s face betokened some com- 
prehension. In thick guttural tones he said, pointing 
straight ahead: — 

^^Go!” 


202 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

Having thus exerted himself, he shut his eyes 
and relapsed into his former comatose state. 

Come ! that ’s fine, as far as it goes,” Raleigh 
commented. I ’ll develop you into a conversation- 
alist yet.” 

He prodded the fat man in the side. 

Know this country?” 

The Mongol opened his eyes, and with surprising 
suddenness said : Dollar ! ” 

That ’s two of his words,” Billy put in. 

I would n’t hurry him too much with the other 
two,” Blythe flung over his shoulder. ^Tt might in- 
jure him. Besides, you want to leave us something to 
look forward to.” 

One thing seems to be certain, though,” Raleigh 
remarked, we can talk in front of our friend here 
without much danger of being understood.” 

The question now before the house is, how to get 
rid of this human jellyfish — this paunch masquerad- 
ing as a man — this ^go-dollar’ specimen,” Blythe 
said. 

^^For he must go,” Raleigh assented, even if 
every chief in Siberia frowns upon us in consequence.” 

Anyway, there ’ll be four of us without him, in 
a few days, if all goes w'ell,” Billy added. 

They trundled on through the desolate country- 
side, all their wits occupied with the problem of get- 
ting rid of their incumbrance, while the object of 
all this thought was placidly wrapped in sleep. 


A HUMAN JELLYFISH 203 

Raleigh studied the features of the unwelcome one 
intently. 

‘‘ It seems to me/’ he announced at last/^ that if we 
should simply deposit him gently on some barren spot 
by the roadside, he would fall asleep and stay there.” 

Yes, he would take root, if one watered him a 
bit,” Blythe assented. 

There was a pause filled with anxious thought for 
all three; for though they might joke about their 
incubus, that he was no joking matter they fully 
recognized. In three days they hoped to reach the 
village which held Princess Tassa. No matter how 
stupid this passenger of theirs, it was unlikely that 
he would sleepily watch them carry off a poHtical 
prisoner. Moreover, they needed his place. 

The thought of bribing him naturally occurred to 
them. His second word, dollar,” was probably the 
keynote of his character. But they could have no 
assurance that having accepted their bribe he would 
not betray them to the police for further reward. 

Thus a day and a half passed, with this incubus 
weighing on them. Even as a guide he was absolutely 
worthless. At several places where the road forked 
and a decision had to be made, although Blythe was 
tolerably certain which the right road was, he tried 
to obtain some expression of opinion from the lump 
of flesh they were carting along. 

The latter, when roused from his somnolence, 
blinked stupidly at the two roads, and murmured : 


204 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


Go ! ’’ 

Yes, but which — which road ? ” 

Go ! ” he repeated amiably. 

Go there ? ” Raleigh pointed to one road. Or 
go there ? ” he pointed to the other. 

The guide nodded pleasantly. 

Go ! ” he mumbled the liquid monosyllable, and 
folding his hands more comfortably across his stom- 
ach, gave himself to sleep again. 

Thoroughly exasperated, Blythe pulled the night- 
cap from the Celestial’s head. 

I say ! ” he yelled, you may wear a nightcap 
all the time, but you Ve got to wake up now and 
then if you travel with us. Tell us which road — 
there or there f ” 

Unwinking, and without anger, the fat man gazed 
at him. 

Dollar ! ” he gurgled. 

Perhaps he wants to be paid every time he shows 
us the way,” suggested Billy. Let ’s try him, any- 
way.” % 

Raleigh held out a silver coin. 

Slowly and without eagerness the Asiatic took it, 
and put it into his ear. 

Go ! ” he mumbled, his head drooping forward 
on his breast. 

Sleeps as well without a nightcap as with it,” 
Billy remarked. 

^‘Well, I’ll put it back on his beautiful head,” 



THE GYROCAR AND ITS SKI ATTACHMENT 




A HUMAN JELLYFISH W5 

Blythe said. ^^The blessed babe mi^ht catch cold if 
I didn’t.” 

^^Hold on a minute !” 

Raleigh’s tone and strangely intent look attracted 
the attention of the others. 

What ’s the matter ? ” Blythe asked. 

Raleigh did not answer at once, but continued to 
stare as if fascinated by the sleeping man. 

I say, what is it ? ” Billy insisted. 

Warningly, Raleigh laid his fingers on his lips, 
and with a manifest effort at catching up the tone 
in which they had formerly been speaking, he said : 

Let ’s stop for luncheon, and have our chef here 
get us a bang-up meal. I ’m sick of cold corned beef 
and crackers eaten en route. Blythe, you ’ve got to 
cook us something. You have boasted what a cook 
you were.” 

Again he gave a meaning glance to the other two 
as he spoke, and they grasped the fact that he wished 
for an opportunity to speak with them alone. 


CHAPTER XLIII 


REVELATIONS 

The car stopped. Raleigh awkwardly fell over 
against the Celestial. The latter roused himself and 
resumed his duties. 

Go ! ’’ he mumbled. 

Yes, we ’ll go, old chap, as soon as we Ve had a 
feed,” Raleigh replied indulgently. If you get out 
and hustle around for some twigs, it will expedite 
matters.” 

The suggestion fell on deaf ears. A gentle snore 
came from the guide’s nose, and his huge breast rose 
and fell rhythmically. 

Let him slumber, poor overworked lamb,” Raleigh 
continued. Now, let ’s scatter and get some twigs 
for a fire.” 

As soon as they were out of earshot of the guide 
his whole manner changed. 

Blythe, when you pulled his cap off did you 
notice anything in particular?” he asked. 

The correspondent shook his head. 

Raleigh went on excitedly ; When you pulled it 
off, something about the shape of his head struck 
me as familiar. Then his hair — did n’t either of you 


REVELATIONS 


207 


notice it? It was half an inch long, and very even 
— as if the top of his head had been shaved not 
long ago. It ’s just about had time to grow so much 
since we left the Light of Asia. He ’s shaved off 
his eyebrows, this time, and clipped his lashes close, 
and that big stomach is n’t his any more than the 
bushy white beard was. I fell over against it on 
purpose when the car stopped. Now do you under- 
stand ? The guide who can only speak four words 
of English — is Kotzalki.” 

Whew ! ” Blythe gave a long surprised whistle. 
That ’s why the chief of police forced him on us.” 

And I said on the Light of Asia that he would 
never be able to fool us again,” said Billy despond- 
ently. 

We have been talking as freely before him as if 
he were in the plot,” Raleigh added. 

He is in the plot,” Blythe assented gloomily, 
you can bet your bottom dollar on that. And we ’ve 
got to keep it up, or he ’ll begin to suspect some- 
thing. Let ’s hurry up with the twigs.” 

An unnatural gayety prevailed during the meal 
which Blythe prepared. In his varied career he had 
picked up a fair knowledge of outdoor cooking. 
What he now concocted would have been a welcome 
change had they had any thoughts to spare for their 
food. 

They set off again, and gradually fell into silence, 
each of them racking his brains for some way of 


208 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


getting rid of their guide before reaching Irkiwatz. 
As for the spy, nothing could be divined of his 
thoughts from his stolid exterior. Whatever his moral 
qualifications, he was certainly a consummate actor. 
Never for a second did he appear anything except 
the doltish native guide. 

That night they again managed to get off together 
for a short consultation. 

A bullet in the back, and a shallow grave is all 
I can think of,” Blythe said grimly. 

Raleigh shook his head, his face set and white. 

Blythe, I can’t stand for it. I don’t see any other 
way, but — to commit murder ! ” His voice was full 
of horror at the idea. 

He would not hesitate to kill us — or that poor 
girl,” Blythe argued. ^ 

I know it — but what would my mother say, if 
I came home a — ” 

What would she say if you did n’t come home 
at all?” Blythe interrupted. All humor had gone 
from Blythe. Of course this expedition is yours. 
I ’m only the tail to the kite ; but I ’m older than 
you two put together, and I feel responsible for you. 
If it’s a question of his life or yours — ” 

One loses the conventional code of morals, as one 
does of manners, under the stress of primal condi- 
tions — and this was as truly primal as if this latest 
type of automobile were only a raft in mid-ocean, 
with starving men clinging to it. 


CHAPTER XLIV 


IN KOTZALKl’s EVIL MIND. 

And what were the thoughts of the spy, sitting 
heavily on the rear seat, listening to every word 
spoken by the three Americans, and emitting from 
time to time an innocent snore? 

Kotzalki had boundless ambitions of his own, 
and took no heed of the rights and lives of others. 
Power was what he wanted, power to wring the 
hearts and purses of men and of women ; power to 
make people cringe before him — fawn upon him, 
though they might hate him with the deepest, bit- 
terest hatred. 

He cared nothing for men’s hatred. It was but a 
fillip to his vanity. 

He had not received promotion as fast as he con- 
sidered his due. Immediately over him were those, he 
felt, who were jealous of his abilities. They kept him 
down, and prevented his merits from being recognized. 

But let his present undertaking be carried through 
to a successful end and they would no longer be able 
to keep him from the attention of the all-powerful 
Head of the Secret Police. 

Papers he carried enabled him to enlist the co- 


210 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


operation of the officials in Siberia, but so far no one 
was aware of the plot which he had unearthed, and 
which he alone was seeing to its end. It would come 
like a bombshell to some very self-important person- 
ages for him, single-handed, to discover three Ameri- 
cans in the act of helping a political prisoner escape 
from Siberia. 

He knew that the old friendship between Russia 
and the United States, dating from the time of the 
Revolution, had been gradually waning, as America 
advanced in the van of civilization, while Russia op- 
posed her huge bulk to all progress, and stamped 
out the few flames of liberty which sporadically 
sprang up in her domain. 

The bureaucracy — the true ruling power of 
Russia — had come to look with more and more hos- 
tility at the land which fostered everything it would 
fain smother off the face of the earth. Hence Kotzalki 
surmised that it would give the bureaucracy no 
small pleasure to arrest some of America’s meddle- 
some sons in the attempt to rescue a political 
prisoner — an unlawful act which even the United 
States would have officially to disown and to apolo- 
gize for, much as the apologizing officials might 
secretly sympathize with the attempt. 

The astute spy’s thoughts were of the rosiest. 
Within him there welled up exultant triumph. He 
would prove his value, and his rise would be propor- 
tionally rapid. His hour was at hand. ^ 


IN KOTZALKI’S EVIL MIND 211 


Of the utter desolation of the girl and her father, 
of the misery he would bring on these three Ameri- 
cans, and upon their friends and relatives, he cared 
no whit. He was callous to human suffering. 

‘^Let me once catch them — as they say, ^with 
the goods on them.’ ” 


CHAPTER XLV 


STILL IN PERPLEXITY 

More grim became their thoughts as more grim 
became the scenery. The spy stood between them 
and the freeing of the girl, as he had stood between 
other poor pohticals and their freedom. They had 
not sought a contest with him — gladly, indeed, 
would they have avoided it; but he had persisted. 
In the beginning when he had obtained an inkling 
of their undertaking he had tried to disable their 
car, through the instrumentality of Sam Peavy. 
When that failed, he had followed them across a 
broad continent and a broad sea — and now it had 
become a life-and-death struggle between them. 

But even yet they could not, as Blythe had sug- 
gested, calmly put a bullet into his head and throw 
him to the wolves. Too many years of Christian 
ancestry lay behind them for that. 

Ever drearier and wilder grew the country as 
they proceeded northward. They saw a few peasants, 
creatures who shambled to the doors of their huts, 
more like animals coming to the entrances of their 
dens than like human beings. Unkempt, stolid, too 
low in the scale of human development even to feel 


STILL IN PERPLEXITY 


213 


curiosity : staring stupidly at the strange apparition 
which flew past them — no more astonished than if 
it had four wheels — no less than if it had soared 
through the air. 

What must life be to a refined and educated young 
girl condemned to live in such surroundings? 

Only a few miles now lay between the gyrocar and 
her whom it had come so far to rescue. And still 
the Americans had arrived at no resolution how to 
act. 

It was the son of the blacksmith who finally hit 
upon a solution of their difficulty. For hours he had 
been turning over a misty idea in his head, sug- 
gested by a half -remembered scrap of casual reading. 
Raleigh was driving, and driving as slowly as he 
dared, without danger of awakening the suspicions 
of the spy. 

At noon they stopped again for luncheon, to kill 
more time. From his seat in the car, Kotzalki 
watched them through nearly closed lids. He found 
great amusement in their gloomy countenances. 
That they would not give up their quest he did not 
doubt. That they would presently try to get rid of 
him he felt assured. He had little fear that they 
would harm him, reposing in the certainty that he 
had duped them and that they did not know who 
he was, and only regarded him as a superfluous, 
stupid guide. 

He had been wondering why they had not at- 


214 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


tempted to get rid of him before. He knew his pre- 
sence disarranged their plans woefully, and that his 
place was wanted for a fairer passenger. He con- 
cluded that now they would not do anything until 
they reached Irkiwatz itself. There they would 
simply leave him. They would arrive after nightfall 
with one guide, and go away before daybreak with 
another. It was not a bad scheme, if he had been 
what they supposed him to be. 

To himself he laughed silently at the picture of 
their consternation, when — just as they were about 
to depart — he would appear, and, with a low, ironi- 
cal bow to the disguised lady, would say : — 

regret. Princess Tassa, to interrupt this little 
journey of yours. I arrest you all in the name of 
the Czar.’’ 

Of course he would have the police forewarned 
that he might need their help. He was going to take 
no chances; but nothing could fail now. 

In spite of himself he chuckled. They were al- 
ready in the hollow of his hand. 


CHAPTER XLVI 


THE SURPRISE OF KOTZALKI 

While Kotzalki gloated over their coming dis- 
comfiture, Billy was speaking to his friends, putting 
into words the misty idea that had come to him as 
an inspiration. 

Don’t the Siberian exiles have a sort of govern- 
ment of their own,” he asked, to judge and pun- 
ish their own members, irrespective of the regular 
government ? ” 

Yes.” 

^^Then wouldn’t it be possible to hand over 
Kotzalki secretly to them. He has harmed them most. 
They should have the right to try him.” 

Blythe gripped his arm. 

^‘By heavens! man, you have hit it — if it can 
only be done. And there is justice in it, too. I don’t 
say the end will be difPerent for him, — but even 
civilized society protects itself against its evil-doers, 
— and Kotzalki is despicable in character and pro- 
fession, and has sent to death, or worse, many a 
noble man and woman. Raleigh, let me take another 
look at that sketch of the village.” 

Prince Anastasief had given Raleigh a rough plan 


216 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


of the village of Irkiwatz, so that he could find the 
house where his daughter lived without having to 
ask any questions. It was very simple : Irkiwatz re- 
quired no map-maker to chart it. 

Blythe studied it as if he did not already know it 
by heart. 

There ’s no possibility of our making a mistake 
in finding Madame Arcadievna’s house/’ he observed. 
He pointed to the sketch. That wooded hill I 


Madame 

Aroadievna 

Vo 



Police 


should judge to he about half a mile east of the 
village — just the right place and distance for us to 
stop in.” 

He drew a long breath. 

^^Well, for good or for ill, the game will be 
called pretty soon — and no rain-checks issued.” 

Blythe drove the car all the afternoon. It was an 
excuse for not going fast. From his maps he knew 
how far they were from Irkiwatz, and with Billy at 
his side as mentor, he managed to time the drive so 
that just as the day was coming to a close they 


THE SURPRISE OF KOTZALKI 217 

reached the wooded hill shown on Prince Anasta- 
sief’s sketch. 

A wood-road dived into the forest, and without a 
word of explanation Blythe turned into it. 

The fat guide uttered no protest. Sleepily he 
opened an eye, and shut it again. He did not even 
demur when the car left the wood-road, and plunged 
in among the underbrush. It was all coming out 
according to his calculations. Probably they would 
hand him some money and dismiss him here. 

But he opened both eyes wide when he felt a 
small cold object pressed against his temple, while 
a cool voice said : — 

Hands up, please.’’ 

It was Raleigh’s voice, and the cold object was 
the muzzle of an automatic pistol. The spy’s short 
hair would assuredly have stood straight up if his 
nightcap had not held it down, as he thought how 
easily an automatic pistol can go off, if the finger on 
its trigger trembles. 

Yet even now he did not betray himself. They 
were taking more strenuous means of getting rid of 
him than he had anticipated. 

I go ! I go ! Goo-bye ! Not guide you more. No. 
Get other mans.” 

He spoke with every manifestation of terror, like 
an ignorant guide giving up his job. 

A marvelous growth in his knowledge of Eng- 
lish,” commented Blythe sarcastically. 


218 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

Suddenly he whirled and plunged both hands into 
the spy’s huge stomach. 

Put a leetle more pressure on your trigger, Ra- 
leigh, — and if he flutters an eyelid — shoot ! ” 

But the spy sat like a graven image, not even 
breathing, the fear of instant death making his face 
so pale that it gleamed in the dim light. 

‘‘ Now, Billy, you take his guns from him — I 
have hold of his wrists,” Blythe ordered. 

Underneath the guide’s rough clothing Billy un- 
earthed two large calibre revolvers, buried in the pil- 
low which gave him his girth. The fingers of the 
spy’s right hand just touched the butt of one, but 
had not quite reached the trigger, when the news- 
paper man had pounced upon him. 

That ’s an old Chicago trick,” Blythe went on, 
breathing a trifle hard. I shot a hold-up man my- 
self, once, through my overcoat, when I was on the 
Tribuney 

Too much rough. I go. Dollar ! ” mumbled the 
spy, playing his part to the last. 

Raleigh answered him politely. 

^^No, you don’t go, Mr. Kotzalki. We have need 
of your presence.” 

In spite of his years of training in danger and 
disguises, the spy gave a start. Not once had it oc- 
curred to him that he might be known. The revela- 
tion was such an unexpected shock that it robbed 
him absolutely of his self-control. 


THE SURPRISE OF KOTZALKI 219 

In a blind panic of terror, and regardless of the 
pistol at his head, he jumped from the car and fled 
for his life. 

Raleigh did not shoot him even then. Somehow, 
he coifld not bring himself to fire upon a defense- 
less man, though that man might be the venomous 
Kotzalki. 

The three Americans sprang after the squat figure 
that was making off at such a marvelous rate of 
speed. 

Merk leaped with the others, barking furiously. 

Billy made a dash for the collie, and threw both 
arfns around him. He knew how quickly a barking 
dog will attract attention — an attention that would 
be fatal to them just then. 

Quiet, sir! ” he commanded. 

The collie whined and entreatingly licked his hand, 
but Billy repeated sternly, Be silent, Merk ! Go 
back to the car, and guard sir 1 ” 

Merk, like a brave soldier, who has been ordered 
to lay by his arms, and keep off the field of battle, 
just as the bugle blows the charge, looked longingly 
after the chase, once again up at Billy, then, with 
drooping head, slowly went back to the car. 


CHAPTER XLYII 


THE KNOCK AT THE DOOR 

Down the wood-road they tore, Raleigh so close 
behind the spy that his outstretched fingers could 
almost touch him. But the fear of death was sending 
Kotzalki along as he had never run in his life. 

Faster and faster they went, the ground seeming 
to fly from under their feet. Blythe, with his long 
legs, was pounding along just behind, but he could 
not gain on the fugitive either. 

Dimly already the open country showed through 
the trees. Raleigh knew that if the spy once reached 
the main road he would probably escape. A stray 
villager upon it and all was lost. 

In desperation he risked everything on one move. 
Straight out through the air he dived for Kotzalki’s 
knees. He had played h^lf-back on the high-school 
team, but never had he tried a tackle on which de- 
pended such results. 

He felt his arms close around the spy’s knees, and 
the two went rolling over and over on the ground, 
Kotzalki kicking and biting like a wild-cat. Luckily 
he had no breath for yelling at first, and when he 
did resort to that final means of defense, Blythe 


THE KNOCK AT THE DOOR 221 


promptly choked ofip his wind, so that he lay limp 
and motionless, all the fight gone out of him. 

Billy came up, and was sent back to the car for 
some rope; and Kotzalki was soon wound around 
like a cocoon, with a gag in his mouth which ended 
his powers of speech and screech, for the time be- 
ing. 

This three-men-to-one is n’t exactly what I like,” 
Raleigh muttered in some disgust, as they were tying 
up the whilom guide. But I don’t see how it can 
h% helped, under the circumstances.” 

No, it is n’t exactly a gentleman’s game,” Blythe 
assented. ^^But it was none of our seeking. He 
Imtted in.” 

The three carried Kotzalki back to the car, and 
Raleigh recovered his pistol which he had dropped 
when he sprang after the spy. 

Leaving the other two and Merk to guard the 
prisoner, Raleigh took the bundle which contained 
the disguise for Princess Tassa, and made his way 
back to the road, now hardly less dark than the 
woo(ls. 

He proceeded with the greatest caution, in order 
to arouse the attention of no dog, whose barking 
might bring curious eyes upon him. 

The sky was partially overcast, and he was tor- 
mented with the idea that in the darkness he should 
make a mistake in the house. The distance to the 
village was some half-mile, but in the vastness of 


^22 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

the night it seemed much farther before he espied 
a cottage on the right. 

His heart beat high. Now, two on the left, and 
one on the right, and he would come to the police 
station. He edged over as far away from it as possi- 
ble. Nevertheless a dog heard him and began to bark. 

Raleigh stood absolutely still. A man came to the 
door of the police cottage and looked around. Evi- 
dently his dog was known to be of an imaginative 
disposition ; for there came a boot-thud, a yelp from 
the dog, and the man walked back into the housed 

When all was silent again, Raleigh crept forward. 
One more house on the left, and then the one set 
farther back from the road would be his goal. 

Smaller and meaner than the habitation of the 
poorest person in P unchard was the little cabin in 
which Madame Arcadievna and the Princess Tassa 
lived. The rough shutters were closed, but a narrow 
slit of Hght came from under the door. 

Raleigh knocked. A woman’s voice answered in 
Russian. Again he knocked, softly, insistently. 

This time some one moved to the door, and opened 
it slightly. A worn woman of about forty stood in 
the doorway and stared at the young man. 

Oddly enough, Raleigh, now that he was at the 
goal he had come so far to reach, found it hard to 
begin. 

beg your pardon,” he stammered, ^^do you 
speak English?” 


THE KNOCK AT THE DOOR 223 

The woman kept on staring, as if she did not un- 
derstand his question, and could not believe her eyes. 

Raleigh, who had no working knowledge of any 
other language than his own, was casting about in 
his mind what he could do, when the woman replied, 
as if in a daze : — 

^^Yes, I speak English. But who are you? You 
cannot be a new prisoner, for none have arrived.” 

No, I ’m not a prisoner, I ’ve just reached 
^ here — ” 

You have escaped?” the woman cried, a tone 
of hope — for him, not for her — in her voice. 
^^Come!” she dragged him into the room, glancing 
fearfully out into the darkness, as she did so. Pa- 
poudoff is always sneaking about and spying. He ’s 
new to the place here, and seems to imagine that if 
he does not keep a close eye on us we shall all run 
away — as if the thousands of miles between us and 
any civilization were not enough. But you! Where 
did you escape from ? I can conceal you for to-night 
— unless the police are on your track? ” 

Into the torrent of eager words, Raleigh had had 
no chance to explain his mission. She turned and 
blew out the candle, explaining in a low tone : — 

‘^Papoudoff may be around. He usually goes 
away if he finds the house dark, and we must not 
risk his coming in to-night, both on your account 
and on account of my poor friend, lying ill in the 
other room.” 


224 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


Raleigh’s heart sank at her words. 

^^Not the Princess Tassa?” he asked. 

The room was very dimly lighted by a few coals 
on the hearth. The woman leaned close to him and 
stared into his face. 

Princess Tassa!” she repeated slowly. ^‘What 
do you know of her?” 

I have come to take her away,” he blurted out. 
^‘Her father, Prince Anastasief, sent me. We are 
in an automobile race around the world — from New 
York to Paris — and hope to smuggle her out of the 
country. This is her disguise.” 

He stopped. There seemed to be so much to ex- 
plain, and here in this bare hut, with dark Siberia 
stretching for thousands of miles on all sides of 
him, and in the dying light of the embers, it all 
sounded as improbable as the wildest imaginings of 
romance. 

A weak voice called from the inner room. 

Absently the woman answered; then turned with 
fierce joy to Raleigh : — 

Come and tell her what you have told me. I do 
not know whether I am mad and you a phantom of 
my disordered brain or not, — we go mad here in 
Siberia, if we do not die.” 

The woman had stepped over to the corner of the 
room. The words came to Raleigh out of the dark, 
and for an instance he was not sure that he himself 
was not mad, so fantastic and unreal did the whole 


THE KNOCK AT THE DOOR 225 


scene appear. He heard a groping about, and the 
striking of a match. With the lighting of the can- 
dle he was brought back to the reality of the miser- 
able little room, bare of almost all that we consider 
the merest necessities, but scrupulously clean. 

^^Come,’’ she repeated, ‘^if you are real.” 

With the words she laid her hand on his arm, and 
felt of his coat; then turned and led the way through 
the narrow inner doorway. 

The second room was still smaller — hardly more 
than a closet. In it were two scanty pallets, and on 
one of these lay a young girl. 

Raleigh caught his breath as he saw her. She was 
like some precious jewel, shining from a dust-heap. 
He had expected to find a poor creature, worn and 
wasted by the terrible experiences she had undergone. 
And worn and wasted Princess Tassa was; but her 
dark pathetic beauty seemed only brought out the 
more clearly by her mean surroundings. 

A wealth of black hair lay upon the rough pillow, 
and framed a face of almost unearthly beauty. Ra- 
leigh had never cared much for girls. He liked them 
in a brotherly way, but felt also a brotherly con- 
tempt for their lack of understanding of machinery. 
For the first time a woman’s charm touched him — 
captivated him. And she on her part looked up 
and saw a tall youth, whose very bearing spoke of 
strength and resourcefulness and freedom. There 
was none of the cringing, the stolid endurance, or 


226 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

of the bullying swagger to which she was accus- 
tomed. A being of another world stood before 
her. 

^^Who is it, Katia?’^ she asked slowly. 

The other woman kneeled down beside the pallet, 
and took the young girl’s head in her arms. 

Dearest,” she said gently, ^^you must be brave. 
But not for bad news — for good.” 

She patted the girl’s hand. 

‘^We have learned to bear bad news,” she said, 
with a wan smile at Raleigh. We have better prac- 
tice in that. But Tassa, my dear companion, you are 
to have your chance for happiness.” 

She spoke very soothingly, afraid of exciting the 
girl with her tidings. 

This gentleman has come from your father. He 
brings a disguise, and will take you away with him. 
You must be the brave girl you have always been, 
and prepare yourself for the labors of the journey 
before you.” 

A wild light of wondering hope had come into 
the sick girl’s face. Her dark eyes turned from one 
to the other. No, it was no dream. They were there 
in the flesh — and Katia was patting her hand, and 
the young man was undoing a bundle containing a 
boy’s suit — and it was the same mean little hole 
where for two years she had lived in despair, ever 
growing till it could see nothing except the grave 
before her. 


THE KNOCK AT THE DOOR 227 

Yet now this was all transfigured by the divine 
light of hope. 

Liberty ! ” she cried. And to see my dear father ! 
Ah ! you do not know what I can bear for that.’’ 

Tears of joy were coursing down her cheeks ; but 
they only seemed to give her strength and new life. 

Anxiously the older woman asked : — 

Are you strong enough to undertake this jour- 
ney? You have not left your bed for five days.” 

The girl laughed through her tears. 

Strength for that ! ” she cried. It takes more 
strength to live through one day here in Irkiwatz 
than a thousand days of travel. But, oh ! my Katia, 
how can I go away and leave you behind, you whose 
love has been all the world to me here?” 

She put her arms around her friend, and drew 
her to her. 

Madame Arcadievna returned the pressure of her 
arms, and then held her off and looked into her eyes. 

You forget, my Tassa, that only a little while 
ago you were lamenting that in a few months you 
would no longer have me with you. My twelve years 
of banishment will be at an end in May.” She turned 
to Kaleigh. ^‘But, monsieur,” she asked anxiously, 
‘^how do you propose to smuggle her out of the 
country? The authorities are most suspicious, and 
you will have need of papers.” 

‘‘We have them,” Raleigh replied. “You see, 
our papers call for the three of us and a guide. 


228 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


Princess Tassa in her disguise can pretend to be our 
guide.” 

“If your papers call for a guide, how did they 
let you come here without one? ” 

“ They did n’t,” Raleigh smiled. “We have got one, 
and what’s more, he’s an agent of the secret police, 
who has been following us all the way from New 
York. His name is Kotzalki. Do you know of him?” 

At the mention of that name, Madame Arca- 
dievna shrank as if a serpent had risen in her path. 

“ Do I know him ! Do not many of us here know 
him?” she cried. “He sent my father to his death, 
and me here. Monsieur, and how do you expect to 
get rid of him ? Kotzalki is not an easy man to deal 
with. If he has followed you from America, he is 
probably at this very moment with the police, and 
in an instant they may be here.” 

She wrung her hands with the dread which had 
replaced her former hope. 

“No! no!” Raleigh said quickly, “Don’t be 
afraid. He can’t be with the police, because he is 
safely tied and gagged in our car. Our idea was to 
hand him over to you for trial and punishment, and 
take Princess Tassa in his place.” 

There came a knock at the outer door. 

Instantly Madame Arcadievna blew out the light. 

“ They are here ! ” she cried in a despairing whis- 
per. “We must hide you — where, oh ! where ? ” 


CHAPTER XLVIII 


A PATIENT FOR WHOM THERE WAS NO HOPE 

The knock was repeated. A man’s voice spoke in 
Russian. 

It is Stanislas. Thank God ! ” — To Raleigh : 
^‘He is one of us, a young physician, who comes 
every day to see what he can do for Tassa.” 

The American felt a twinge of jealousy that this 
Stanislas should minister to her. 

Cautiously Madame Arcadievna opened the door 
and admitted the newcomer, before lighting the 
candle. 

The physician’s astonishment at seeing Raleigh 
was great. He was a young man of not more than 
thirty, but his abundant hair was snow-white. 

When the situation was explained to him, Stanis- 
las’s face lighted up. 

Ah ! that will do more for her than all the doc- 
tors and drugs in the world,” he exclaimed. And 
now we must see how we can manage to hide her 
flight as long as possible from Papoudoff. Every 
hour’s start will increase her chances tremendously. 
If he does not get wind of her going by this auto- 
mobile, the police will be hunting for her near here, 
when she will be afar off.” 


230 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

Into the Princess’s beautiful eyes had come a 
shadow. 

^‘But what will they do to you, my friends, when 
they discover that you have hidden my flight from 
them? I cannot bear the thought of making your 
lot more unhappy than it already is.” 

What will they do to us?” repeated Stanislas in 
his deep voice. “ What can they do ? They cannot 
send us to Siberia — because we are there already. 
They cannot condemn us to insufficient and miser- 
able quarters — because we have them already. They 
cannot make our lives a hell upon earth — because 
they are that already.” 

But Katia ! They will not let her go in May. 
They will make her stay here twelve years more.” 

‘^Dearest, do not mind me. My life is done. 
Willingly will I give what is left of it to bring lib- 
erty to your youth.” 

“ Katia — yes,” the physician murmured, his head 
sinking on his breast, and his brow contracted in 
thought. 

In an instant he cried : — 

Ah ! I have it ! And this traitor, Kotzalki, shall 
help us for once in his life. I am the only physician 
here, and even Papoudoff relies upon me. When you 
are gone, there shall yet be a patient in this bed. It 
is so dark here that the difference will not be no- 
ticed without close examination — and Papoudoff 
fears sickness as he fears no other thing. Presently 


A HOPELESS PATIENT 231 

your sickness will develop into plague. You could 
clear out the whole village with the word. Fortu- 
nately the house is a little apart. It will have no 
visitors. I will volunteer to nurse the patient, with 
Katia. You may die of the plague. Then I will offer 
to burn all the infected clothing, the house if need 
be, and the body: there will be a dead body to 
burn.’’ 

He spoke slowly and solemnly. He turned to 
Raleigh : — 

Don’t think us cruel, monsieur. Four in this 
village did Kotzalki unjustly accuse — and he knew 
it. I was one — and my wife and child died on the 
road here of privation and bad treatment. For my- 
self I would not mind so much — but, oh ! the women 
and children who have suffered and died because of 
Kotzalki ! ” 

A silence fell upon them. After a while the Prin- 
cess said: — 

Katia, bring me your scissors.” She raised her- 
self up in bed. ^^Cut this hair off. As a guide I 
shall not need it, and Kotzalki may need it as a pa- 
tient, if Papoudoff takes it into his head to glance 
into the room to see how I am doing.” 

For a minute the snip-snip of the scissors was 
heard, and Katia laid a mass of dark hair away, 
leaving a small, boyish head where a girl’s had been. 


CHAPTER XLIX 


AN UNPLEASANT INTERRUPTION 

That night witnessed as extraordinary an occur- 
rence as ever happened in Siberia — and Siberia sees 
many an occurrence. 

While the long darkness covered all the earth, four 
men, sent as convicts into this dread country through 
the false testimony of Kotzalki, now by poetic justice 
bore him into the village, muffled and bound. 

And then a strange monster, such as never before 
in the world’s long life had traversed this part of 
the country, tore along, piercing the darkness in 
front of it with a beam of light from its fiery eyes. 

The monster passed through the village at the 
speed of the wind. Had any one been in its path he 
would have been crushed like a beetle. But no one 
was in its way. Some few heard the horrible snorting 
of its cut-out, and the dread of the unknown paralyzed 
them. They dared not look to see what it was. A dog 
or two yelped in terror, as it wildly sought its hole. 

Papoudoff in his warm room heard it, too, and 
devoutly made the sign of the cross on his breast. 
For an instant he thought some unnamed dragon had 
come down from its lair in the frozen North ; but 


AN INTERRUPTION 


233 


as it passed in a breath, he crossed himself again, 
and thought no more of it. 

Meanwhile the motor was speeding away from 
Irkiwatz, once its goal, now spurned by its swiftly 
revolving tires. The little car, as if it knew that the 
time had come for its best endeavors, sped on through 
the night with never a falter of its stout gasolene 
heart. 

Four figures were in it, and a dog, as there had 
been the last few days ; but where a round-bellied 
guide had sat, was now a slender figure, with a pale 
young face, transfigured by the hope which burned in 
the dark pathetic eyes. 

Billy was at the wheel ; for his sight had proved 
the best for night driving. Blythe was beside him. 
Raleigh on the rear seat sat by the young Prin- 
cess. 

By an inexplicable oversight they had not brought 
along a fur coat for her. But she did not complain : 
bravely she turned up the collar of her boy ’s jacket, 
and snuggled down as far as possible into her seat, 
with Merk — who had made friends with her at once 
— at her feet. 

The speed of the Phoenix Bird filled her with an 
awful fascination. It was uncanny thus to be dash- 
ing through the night, — the magic carpet could 
hardly have been more so. 

In the cone of light which cut into the blackness 
in front, she saw her familiar little world flash into 


234 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


sight, like a sudden vision, and then sink into oblivion 
behind. 

High rose her spirits at this masterful rending 
asunder of the web of fate in which she had been 
entangled for a two years’ eternity ; and her blood 
leaped through her arteries as if her buoyant hopes 
alone were sufficient to keep off the cold of a Siberian 
night. 

Raleigh only noticed her thinly clad condition 
after they had left the village behind. In a matter- 
of-fact way he stood up and began taking off his 
fur coat. 

Oh, no! please don’t!” she protested. You 
are not used to going without it, while I am well 
accustomed to this climate.” 

The American laughed an odd little laugh that 
had almost a sob in it. 

^^Do you think I’d sit here in furs and let you 
freeze beside me ? ” 

But see, your lovely dog is keeping me quite 
warm.” 

^^A very good example he is setting his master.” 

The girl saw that it was useless to protest further, 
and permitted Raleigh to put his coat around her. 

Blythe whispered something to Billy, and looked 
at his watch. After half an hour’s steady going he 
stood up in his seat and began pulling off his own 
overcoat. 

What are you doing? ” Raleigh asked. 


235 


AN INTERRUPTION 

Half-hour ’s up. My turn.” 

‘‘ Hold on there ! I shan’t take your coat,” Ra- 
leigh protested. 

See here, young fellow, Billy and I have held 
an Initiative and Referendum on the front seat and 
we ’ve decided that it ’s to be turn and turn about 
— half an hour at a time ; and we ’re in a clear 
majority of two to one, — ladies not yet having the 
ballot,” with a courtly wave of his hand to the 
Princess. We ’ll get another at the first town we 
come to.” 

All night they traveled without a stop. They felt 
pretty sure Princess Tassa’s flight would not be dis- 
covered; but if by some evil chance it were, the 
more miles that lay between them and Papoudoff, 
the greater their chance would be. No telegraph line 
ran within thirty miles of Irkiwatz. He would prob- 
ably hunt for her in the near neighborhood ; for that 
she had escaped in a motor-car would hardly occur 
to the police in their wildest conjectures. 

The fatigue of the long drive, coming immedi- 
ately after a week’s illness in bed, the Princess bore 
with a fortitude worthy of a hardened soldier ; but 
toward noon, after fourteen hours’ of continuous 
travel, Blythe noticed that in spite of her indomi- 
table will she was beginning to droop. A short rest 
and some more nourishing food than she could get 
while the car was in motion seemed to him imperative 
for her. He knew that it would distress her greatly 


£36 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

to think that she was delaying the others, and in- 
creasing their danger, by her weakness. He turned 
suddenly and exclaimed : — 

I declare I 'm all fagged out — and mighty near 
starved. Let ’s stop right here and build a lire, and 
I ’ll make you the finest dish of stone soup that ever 
was ladled.” 

^^What is stone soup?” asked Billy. 

Never heard of stone soup?” Blythe cried, in 
the greatest surprise. ^^Why, my son, where were 
you brought up ? Not know stone soup ? Well 1 
That state of ignorance should be dispelled at once, 
if not sooner.” 

But don’t you think we ought to get as far 
from Irkiwatz as possible ? ” asked Raleigh. 

In his intense fear lest Princess Tassa fall again 
into the hands of the police, he could not bear the 
thought of stopping. 

Blythe turned around. The Princess’s eyes were 
almost closed with fatigue. He gave a significant 
nod in her direction, and rattled on cheerfully : — 

Of course we ought — ought to dispel this dis- 
graceful state of Billy’s ignorance on the instant. 
I’ll bet you don’t know stone soup yourself, and 
are trying to distract my attention.” 

All right,” laughed Raleigh, how do you be- 
gin?” 

The first thing is to find the proper kind of 
stone. I ’ll have to do that ; and meanwhile you and 


237 


AN INTERRUPTION 

Billy might take your guns and see if you can’t 
shoot some kind of a bird. There are a lot of them 
sitting about.” 

The car was drawn up at the side of the road. 
The country was very wild here, and they had seen 
many game birds as they passed along. 

Let me do something to help,” said the Princess, 
rousing up from her seat. 

^^I am very sorry to say, mademoiselle,” Blythe 
replied urbanely, that the position of cook is al- 
ready filled.” 

But I am not applying for the position of 
cook,” persisted the Princess. I only aspire to be 
waitress.” 

Raleigh had been arranging the cushions his 
mother had made for him in the most comfortable 
way on the rear seat. 

‘‘ Come ! ” he said gently ; you must rest.” 

Without a word she obeyed him, and he covered 
her with the fur coats they had taken off. Then he 
and Billy went off in different directions in search 
of game. With a joyous bark Merk rushed gam- 
boling ahead of his master, and was much cha- 
grined at being called to heel. 

Blythe busied himself in building a fire and get- 
ting everything ready, while Princess Tassa sank 
into slumber. 

In a quarter of an hour there came a shot from 
the right, followed by three more in quick succes- 


238 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


sion — the agreed signal of success. Five minutes 
later the hunters returned, Billy carrying a fine i 
large bird, something like a pheasant. 

That ’s good ! Almost as important as the stone,’’ 
Blythe commented. “ Now, you fellows roll that log 
up a bit for a seat, and lend a hand to pluck the 
bird ; and don’t make any more noise than necessary, 
in order that our fair guide may have a little more 
rest. By the way, where is Merk ? ” 

Hullo ! ” Raleigh looked around him. He has 
given me the slip. I guess he must have made up 
his mind to stretch his legs a bit. He will turn up 
presently.” 

When the scent of stone soup is wafted out on 
the circumambient atmosphere, he will come quickly 
enough. Here is the stone.” 

He exhibited a pebble half the size of his fist. 

“ I found a spring over yonder, too, in which I 
laved the stone. Some don’t approve of that, but I 
do. Now, you observe, I put it into this saucepan 
of ours, and cover it with water. Then this bird, 
cleaned and dismembered, is added. It will improve 
the flavor. Also a tin of corned beef, a bit of but- 
ter, salt, and pepper. If we had onions, carrots, to- 
matoes, and a few other simple things, we ’d put 
them in, too ; but we have n’t. — Never mind ! Now, 
I ’ll let it boil over the fire for a while, to get plenty 
of strength out of the stone. There ! the seasoning 
seems to be all right. I guess I ’ll add three or four 


239 


AN INTERRUPTION 

hard-tack to give it a little more body — that stone 
was a trifle lean.” 

Blythe was in his element, fussing about and put- 
ting on the airs of a chef. 

All I need is a big white apron, a little pointed 
beard, and a French accent to be a sure-enough 
cook,” he said complacently. I Ve often thought I 
should have made far more money in cooking than 
in writing poetry.” He sighed. 

A pleasant sizzling came from the skillet. The 
three watched it, inhahng the delicious odor that was 
wafted to their nostrils. 

Blythe presently lifted the cover, and gave it a 
critical glance. 

It is quite ready ; but before serving it I think 
I ’ll take out the stone. By not eating it we can use 
it several times without impairing its efficiency.” 

The Princess had waked up much refreshed, and 
heard these last words, which Blythe was delivering 
with admirable gravity and condescension, and dis- 
concerted him by laughing as he fished out the 
stone. 

^^What a wonderful cook you must be!” she 
cried. 

Thank you, madam,” he replied. The youth 
of my native land are very insufficiently educated in 
the fundamental arts of living. Either of these intel- 
ligent individuals might be imprisoned in a hard- 
ware store full of cooking-ranges, with a barrel of 


240 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


fine stones at hand — and die of starvation. Now, 
most honored guest, if you will take your place with 
the others on this log, I will proceed to serve you 
with such utensils as we possess.” 

All of them were only too glad to sit anywhere else 
rather than in the gyrocar, for a change. Princess 
Tassa was served in a tin cup ; Blythe took the top 
of the skillet ; while Billy and Raleigh ate amicably 
out of the skillet itself. They all declared truthfully 
that they had rarely tasted anything more delicious 
than this stone soup. 

That log had never borne so festive a quartette. 
The cheerful diners had just finished the last drop 
of the soup — with the exception of a little left for 
Merk — when they heard a rustle behind them. 

Blythe glanced over his shoulder and found him- 
self staring into the muzzles of three rifles, not ten 
feet distant. 


CHAPTER L 


THE PHCENIX BIRD IN CAPTIVITY 

1” Blythe coughed, setting down his skillet 
cover with care, I don’t wish to give you all a start, 
but behind us there are three of the toughest look- 
ing customers I ever saw. Don’t move ! Their guns 
are cocked.” 

The newspaper man spoke calmly. His compan- 
ions remained quiet. The first thought of them all 
was that they had fallen into the hands of the police. 
But Princess Tassa, after a glance, said in an under- 
tone, ^^They are brigands.” 

Indeed, the leveled guns were held by as dirty and 
villainous a trio as one would wish to avoid. One 
was a huge man, upon whose brutal features played 
a grin of satisfaction. 

Raleigh looked toward the car, where their own 
arms were, and for a moment contemplated making 
a bolt for it. But such a move would have been 
sheer madness. The faces of the brigands showed 
that they meant business ; and at such short range 
there was no possibility of their missing him, should 
they shoot. 

The big leader gave a shout, and some fifteen 


242 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


more men came skulking out of the underbrush, all 
armed with guns, pistols, and knives. 

^Gt is better not to resist,” said Tassa. It would 
only make them worse.” 

may be able to buy ourselves off, if we can 
keep them in good humor,” Blythe added grimly. 

A word from the leader and the bandits gripped 
their prisoners, tied their hands behind them with 
rawhide thongs, and threw them on the ground. 

Raleigh, when he saw how roughly they handled 
the girl, would have struggled even against those 
odds had he not already been helpless. 

After they were made fast, Merk came bounding 
up out of the woods, and with a ferocious growl 
sprang at his friends’ captors. Raleigh sharply called 
him off, just as one of the men was raising his gun 
to shoot him. At the same instant another of the 
bandits, who evidently valued a good dog, struck up 
his companion’s arm ; then patted his knee and called 
enticingly to Merk. But the collie, growling and 
bristling, came and lay down beside his master. 

The brigand, having finished with their prisoners, 
turned their attention to the Phcenix Bird, They 
laid down their rifles and clustered about it, exam- 
ining it from every side with the greatest interest 
and suspicion. No such object had ever before been 
their booty. 

What could it be? A living thing, or some devil- 
ish contrivance which might spring upon them at 


THE CAPTIVE PHOENIX 


243 


I any moment ? Their excited comments filled the air, 
every man having a different theory. They circled 
[about it, stealthily drawing nearer and nearer, 
watching it closely to see if it showed any signs of 
attacking them. 

In its monstrous passivity it appeared quite harm- 
less, and finally two of the boldest from among them 
dared touch it. 

Their hands chanced to fall upon the hot hood. 
With yells of terror they jumped back, declaring 
that it had stung them ; and the whole group re- 
treated to a safe distance. 

One of them went for his rifle, and brought it to 
his shoulder. 

The big chief gave him a buffet on the side of the 
head that sent him and his gun sprawling. 

‘‘ What ! irritate the thing by shooting at it 
The overturned brigand picked himself and his 
gun up, muttering. He did not offer further vio- 
lence to the gyrocar. 

The prisoners, although momentarily unnoticed, 
could not tell how long they would be forgotten. 
And then what would be their fate ? 

Raleigh’s thoughts were bitter, indeed. Through 
his sheer carelessness Tassa was now in a plight 
worse than that from which he had rescued her. 

He should never have permitted Merk to run 
away from him. Merk would have given the alarm. 
He should not have let them all sit on the log with 


244 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

their backs in the same direction. He should have 
kept his arms by him. 

If he could only lay his hand on a gun, now that 
their captors were all absorbed in the car ! He 
tugged and strained at his bonds, but only succeeded 
in cutting his wrists with the thongs, which had been 
drawn cruelly tight. 

Yet his physical pain was nothing to his mental 
anguish. 

Unconsciously he groaned. 

^^Do your wrists hurt you very much?” asked 
Tassa softly. 

Raleigh shook his head. ^^It was of you I was 
thinking.” 

Billy asked : Do you see any way of getting out 
of this?” 

His faith in Raleigh’s resourcefulness was still 
supreme. 

Miserably Raleigh shook his head again. 

The brigands had gathered in a knot and were 
listening intently to one who was holding forth to 
them. He was the least considered member of the 
band, and scant attention had been paid his words 
until the monster had stung two of their boldest 
comrades. He pointed to the car, trotted up and 
down, and then gave a wide sweep with his hand to 
indicate extreme speed. He had a vague notion of 
the capabilities of an automobile, and was expound- 
ing it to his fellows. 


THE CAPTIVE PHOENIX 


245 


A consultation followed, some wishing to see a 
demonstration of this extraordinary power of motion 
of the monster, and others arguing against tamper- 
ing with it. 

The huge chief at length spoke, and his words 
ended the debate. 

The cluster of men drifted down on their pris- 
oners. Some seized Blythe, and some Raleigh, and 
a violent dispute ensued between the partizans of 
one and those of the other. Finally those of Raleigh 
carried the day, and Blythe was unceremoniously 
dumped back upon the ground. 

Raleigh’s hands were untied. He was dragged 
and pushed toward the Phoenix Bird, The big 
chief thrust his face down within a few inches of 
Raleigh’s and delivered a long harangue, punctuat- 
ing it by poking his pistol into the American’s face, 
and making the motion of drawing his knife across 
his prisoner’s throat. 

Previously the chief had given an order to one of 
his men, who dashed off into the woods, and now 
came back with a long braided lariat. One end of 
this the chief tied around his own waist, the other 
around Raleigh’s; and he gave him a shove toward 
the gyrocar. 

Raleigh had no difficulty in gathering from all 
this that he was to give an exhibition of the car’s 
powers, and must make no attempt to escape as he 
valued his life. 


M6 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

He climbed into the Phcenix Bird and prepared 
to start, his mind doing the hardest thinking of his 
life. Here was an opportunity given him: how 
could he utilize it ? 

Slowly he set the car in motion, backward. He 
took pains that it should go no faster than a walk, 
in order to afford his captors no ground for suspi- 
cion. 

As the car moved off, the brigands capered about 
it, uttering whoops of amazement and delight. Evi- 
dently this monster was quite docile in the hands of 
its keeper, and of their own ability to handle its 
keeper they had no doubts. 

Raleigh heard Tassa softly calling Merk to her. 

The gyrocar had never in its existence figured in 
so odd a triumphal procession. These wild creatures 
were frenzied in their joy at this new toy which had 
fallen into their possession. For a quarter of a mile 
they capered about the Bird like goats. Then there 
came an imperious tug at the lariat, and Raleigh 
obediently stopped the car. 

The chief’s exhilaration had gone to his head. 
He would show his men of what audacity he was 
capable. With a confident smile he approached the 
car, and prepared to mount it before his admiring 
followers. 

He put one hand on its side. 

It did not sting him. 

He lifted a huge foot and placed it upon the step. 


THE CAPTIVE PHCENIX 247 

This development did not accord with a desperate 
plan for escape which Raleigh had formed. 

The shift of a lever, the motion of a foot, and the 
car dashed forward, nearly upsetting the chief. 
With a savage cry of rage he recovered his balance 
and sprinted after the car. For a few seconds he 
pounded furiously along just behind it ; when he saw 
that he could not catch it he stopped, snatched a 
pistol from his belt and took quick aim at Raleigh’s 
head. 


CHAPTER LI 


POOR merk! 

The chief was a dead shot, but at the very instant 
that he pulled the trigger of his pistol, the lariat 
tightened and jerked him three feet into the air. 

There was a hang ! from the pistol, but the bullet 
went hurtling into the sky, while the weapon itself 
flew from his grasp. 

Down came the big chief, squirming like an eel 
and trying desperately to regain his footing and to 
free himself from the lariat. But the Phcenix Bird 
moved mercilessly on, and the chief had to follow, 
sometimes on his feet, more often dragging on his 
back or his stomach. 

The brigands were so thunderstruck that for a 
few seconds they stood stock-still, and watched their 
chief bouncing along behind the car, like a tin can 
tied to a dog’s tail. 

Then they did wake up enough to fire off a fusil- 
lade of pistol shots which did no damage. Only one 
man held a gun, and he did not shoot. His head still 
buzzed from the blow it had received from his chief, 
and he was not sorry to see him humiliated. 

Raleigh crouched low in the car, to afford as small 


POOR MERK! 


249 


a target as possible. He was so nerved up that he 
hardly noticed the lariat around his waist, though 
for weeks afterwards he felt half cut in two. 

A few hundred yards away lay the captives. W ould 
he have time to reach them, lift them into the car, 
and start again before any of his pursuers came up 
with him? 

It was a long chance, impeded as the speed of the 
car was by the dragging weight of the chief. 

He glanced over his shoulder. Two lithe young 
fellows had far outstripped their companions, and 
were only fifty yards away. Each of them had a 
pistol in his hand. The foremost one had already 
emptied his futilely at Raleigh, and could only use 
it to threaten with. The other had still one shot in 
reserve. 

The grinding brakes brought the car to a stop at 
the scene of Blythe’s stone soup and, to Raleigh’s 
amazement, all three of the prisoners scrambled to 
their feet. 

Swiftly as everything passed, it yet enabled the 
two pursuers to come within a few feet of the car. 
Here Merk took a hand in the game. He attacked 
them with such ferocity that he toppled the first man 
head over heels, and leaped at the second one’s 
throat. 

The latter had meant to reserve his last bullet for 
the recapture of the gyrocar, but his own instant 
danger drove this purpose from his mind. He fired 


£50 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


point-blank at Merk, and the collie rolled over and 
over on the ground and lay still. 

He ’s killed Merk ! ’’ Billy cried. 

He caught up a gun, so filled with rage and sor- 
row that he had no thought except to fight the 
brigands. 

Raleigh laid a hand on Billy’s arm and pointed 
to three brigands galloping through the woods on 
ponies. 

They can surround us and pick us off from the 
underbrush. We daren’t take such risks — for her 
sake. Cut the rope, and let ’s go.” 

We ’ll do better than that with our bedraggled 
friend,” put in Blythe. We ’ll make a bulwark of 
him. Princess, get in the front seat. Billy, lend a 
hand.” 

They lifted the gasping chief and laid him along 
the back of the rear seat. Scrambling in themselves, 
they held him in this uncomfortable position. 

Shoot ahead, if you want to,” Blythe yelled. 

The mass of the brigands were now dangerously 
near. They hesitated to shoot, however, when they 
saw that it would endanger the life of their own 
chief. 

The little car plunged ahead at full speed, and 
soon the brigands dwindled into specks in the 
distance. Then only was the chief dumped by the 
roadside, having recovered his breath but not his 
arrogant demeanor. 


POOR MERE 


251 


It was a sad little car which pursued its course 
after its fortunate escape; for those in it could not 
forget poor Merk, left behind with a brigand's 
bullet in him. 

Raleigh's sorrow was rendered even more poignant 
when he learned how his friends had managed to get 
rid of their bonds. 

^^It was Merk, and Princess Tassa," Billy told 
him. ^^As soon as you drove off with the bandits, 
she began talking to Merk and trying to make him 
bite her thongs. He could not understand at first, 
and only licked her hands and whined. But after a 
while he saw what she wanted, and gnawed away at 
them until she was free. Without rising from the 
ground she cut ours, so that we were all ready when 
you came up. I had an idea you might try something 
like this when I saw you start off backward instead 
of forward.” 

^^Poor Merk!” said the Princess softly. He first 
freed us, and then gave his life to save us.” 


CHAPTER LII 


A SCRATCHING OUTSIDE THE DOOR 

At five o’clock that day they arrived at a fair-sized 
village where they decided to spend the night. But 
for the delay occasioned by the bandits they could 
have reached a larger town soon after nightfall. 
This was now impossible unless they were to go a 
number of hours in the dark. To tell the truth, their 
nerves were considerably shaken by their encounter. 
They had come so near a complete ending of their 
journey that all other risks loomed up larger than 
common. 

The inn where they were to spend the niglit, as 
was usual in Siberia, was a most miserable affair. It 
offered only one large living-room, where all its 
guests were welcome to such rest as they could 
obtain on wooden benches around the walls, or on 
the floor. In the same room bitter tea, with salt, 
and black bread was served to any newcomer who 
called for it, at no matter what time of the day or 
night. 

To such hardships our three Americans had be- 
come used, if not reconciled ; and Princess Tassa 
bore everything with the greatest cheerfulness. Each 


A SCRATCHING 


253 


discomfort was to her but a stepping-stone toward 
freedom — nor had her own life during the last two 
years been of a kind to make her particular. 

None of the four in the gyrocar had rested for 
two days, and to their tired bodies the primitive 
arrangements, on this occasion, seemed almost luxu- 
rious. Wrapped in their furs, they dropped o£E to 
sleep as soon as their heads lay upon the hard 
wooden benches ; and they slept soundly the whole 
night through, in spite of the occasional opening of 
the door, admitting icy drafts into the hot room, 
and in spite of the heavy tramping of other travel- 
ers and of the Imperial postman, as they came and 
went. 

It was seven o’clock, long after the usual hour for 
getting ofP, and our tired motorists were still asleep. 
Raleigh was the first to stir. Dimly he became aware 
of a scratching and whining, at first so faint that it 
melted into a dream, then more and more insistent, 
until finally he half awoke, murmuring, — 

^^Keep quiet, Merk, old chap, and let me sleep.” 

His own words roused him to fuller conscious- 
ness, and to the sad remembrance that Merk was 
dead. 

thought I heard you, Merk,” he said. 

The next instant he started up, fully awake. There 
was a whining and scratching at the door. 

Breathless, he listened for a second; then bounded 
up, shouting : — 


254 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


^‘Merk! Merk!” 

His cry awakened his companions, and they, as 
well as the others in the room beheld him wrench- 
ing open the door, catching a very woe-begone and 
bloody collie to his breast, and hugging and kissing 
him with frantic joy. 

It was Merk, with a furrow ploughed along the 
top of his skull, which had knocked him insensible, 
though it had not really hurt him badly. He was so 
tired, that after licking his master’s face feebly, he 
sank down utterly worn out. 

By what instinct he had been able to track his 
master, who can tell? Weak with loss of blood, he 
must have traveled all night ; and had the village 
been a mile or two farther on, he might not have 
been able to reach it. 

.Never was an invalid more tenderly cared for 
than Merk was. The Princess, who had become an 
expert nurse in attending to the peasants on her 
father’s estate, took complete charge of him. His 
wounded head was bathed in warm water, dried and 
bandaged. 

Blythe skirmished about the village until he had 
located a hen, and had obtained possession of it. 
Under his hands, the hen turned to soup in a short 
time, and Merk’s share of this revived him wonder- 
fully. 

This return of Merk had so completely absorbed 
the attention of them all that it was with quite a 


A SCRATCHING 255 

shock that Raleigh beheld through the window the 
well-known uniform of the police. 

This first encounter with them since the rescue 
of Princess Tassa filled him with apprehension, the 
more so when he noticed that instead of a single 
official, such as usually came to examine their papers, 
this time there were four, two of whom went around 
to the rear of the inn, while the other two came in 
at the front door. 

Raleigh touched Tassa’s arm. 

W ould n’t it be better for you to he out of the 
room while they are here ? ” he said. 

She nodded. She had been into the kitchen sev- 
eral times for hot water for Merk, and quietly shpped 
in there again. 


CHAPTER LIII 


WHAT THEY HEARD THROUGH THE SILENT NIGHT 

The two police officials entered the large room. 
Their appearance roused little general interest, since 
they always came to inquire into the business of 
travelers. 

The one, a large, stupid fellow, in whose round 
eyes shone a dumb, bovine curiosity as he looked at 
the Americans, took his station by the door, as if to 
cut off their exit. 

The other, a fierce little man, evidently the supe- 
rior, strode forward, bristling with official dignity, 
and directed a sharp question at the Americans. As 
this was uttered in Russian, it was only answered by 
the production of their papers. 

With dismay Raleigh noticed that these did not 
seem to satisfy him at all. He glanced at them per- 
functorily, tossed them on a bench, and uttered a 
fresh stream of questions. 

Ah, that ’s German he ’s speaking now,” drawled 
Blythe. Guten Tag ! ” 

Guten Tag,” replied the official, and plunged 
into another torrent of words. 

He sets too fast a pace for me. Most of these 


WHAT THEY HEARD 257 

foreigners do. It seems to go with being a foreigner. 
But I’ll just say something in the same language 
to encourage him. He might get lonely talking all 
by himself.” 

Blandly he turned to the little Russian : — 

Pretzeln ! Zwei Bier ! Prosit ! ” 

The official stared at him ; then struck off into 
another long harangue, until, seeing from the news- 
paper man's face that not a word was understood, 
he stopped, and very slowly and distinctly asked 
another question. 

Blythe’s face brightened. 

^^That ’s French — I know that. After he ’s worked 
around through Italian and Portuguese, he may 
reach English by degrees. Parlez-vous? Oui! Oui!” 

Ah ! mais, monsieur, pourquoi ne m’aviez vous 
pas dit que vous parliez le frangais? Maintenant 
nous pouvons nous entendre,” the official rattled 
on. 

There he goes again, using all the words in the 
dictionary, and piling ’em on so thick you can’t 
breathe. If these chaps would only see the beauty of 
words of one syllable, and not more than four in a 
sentence, it would conduce to a great deal of pleas- 
ure all around. What in thunder do you suppose 
he ’s trying to say to us ? ” 

Blythe with his facetious remarks was only mark- 
ing time. He was quite aware how desperate their 
case was. Even when they had lain on the ground, 


258 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


bound by the brigands, things had been no blacker 
than they now appeared. 

At this instant Tassa came into th^ room, a po- 
liceman on each side of her. Raleigh turned white. 
His eyes shone with unnatural brilliancy. He glanced 
at his companions. They were ready to second him 
in no matter what wild attempt he might make to 
prevent her arrest. 

His hand stole to the pocket where his automatic 
pistol lay. 

‘^Not yet, my son,” drawled Blythe. ^^Let them 
show their hand a little more.” 

The Princess came on, looking exactly like a 
handsome boy of sixteen. She was talking to the 
officials with quiet self-possession, though her face 
was very pale. 

Without paying any attention to her friends, she 
addressed herself to the chief, and he entered into 
an animated conversation with her, which to the 
Americans, who could not understand a word of it, 
seemed interminable. 

All the other people in the room forsook their 
own affairs and clustered about the Princess and 
the chief, listening to every word with rapt atten- 
tion. 

As the chief talked with the Princess, he became 
more and more excited. He raised his head, gesticu- 
lating violently, and finally brought his palm down 
on the shoulder of the girl. 


WHAT THEY HEARD 


259 


This seemed the end. 

As if it had been an agreed signal, the hands of 
the three Americans sought their pistols. 

A hair’s breadth separated those four policemen 
from death — their death, and then the insanely im- 
possible dash for liberty, through this huge land 
hostile to all forms of liberty. 

Tassa turned, and read their intention. 

She gave a little sob, like a child. 

They only want to see the car,” she said. The 
sergeant here has a brother who works in a machine 
shop in Germany, and he has written to him about 
automobiles, and what they could do. He did not be- 
lieve that his brother spoke the truth until he heard 
that we had come in one of those machines. He 
wants to see it.” 

^Hs that all?” Raleigh cried. 

^^Yes,” she answered, and the word was a sigh of 
thankfulness. 

In the exuberance of his relief, Raleigh ex- 
claimed : — 

I ’ll give him and his three men a ride all over 
town”; and solemnly the instruments of the law 
were paraded up and down the village street, to the 
great excitement of the whole populace. 

Afterwards, in a hurricane of outlandish words, 
which none but Tassa could understand, the Phoenix 
Bird took its departure. 

^‘Weren’t you frightened? ” Raleigh asked of the 


260 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR ^ 

girl, when they were speeding on their way again. 

You looked so cool, when you came in.” 

She smiled. 

Would you really like to know?” 

He nodded. 

was so frightened when I first saw them that 
I could not use my tongue. I had to say to myself 
that your life — the lives of all of you depended on 
my courage.” She smiled again. I shan’t be so • 
frightened next tim’e. You see, it was the first time 
I had to speak with officials as a free person would. 
You don’t know what an effect their uniform has on 
us. But I think now you can trust me.” 

Billy asked presently : — 

Have n’t we got back on the regular route 
mapped out for the race, Blythe ? ” 

Yes, we came directly south from Irkiwatz, and 
the last village is on the regular route.” 

‘^Then I guess the curiosity of those officials 
meant that no other auto has passed along here, 
does n’t it, and that we are still in the lead ? ” 

^^By Jupiter Tonansl it does!” 

This thought exhilarated them all, and the day, 
a gorgeous one, — the first that could be called a 
spring day, — added to their exhilaration. It was 
succeeded by a wonderful array of similar days, and 
the Phoenix Bird took advantage of the dry roads 
and mild skies to get over as much ground as possi- 


WHAT THEY HEARD 261 

There was no indication that Doctor Stanislas’s 
plans for covering Tassa’s flight had miscarried. Just 
the same, they could not feel that she was safe 
until she was out of Siberia — out of Russia. 

That Prince Anastasief was a good organizer they 
had proof at nearly everywhere they sto*pped. Sup- 
plies of petrol and of oil were always awaiting 
them, and often they found in attendance a skilled 
mechanic to assist in making any repairs that might 
be needed on the Phoenix Bird, 

Thus, in spite of their small horse-power, they 
kept up a very good rate of speed. 

A week passed. There was no sign of any other 
car. 

^^Too bad we can’t get a race out of this,” said 
Blythe one night. 

A moon which, as a slender crescent, had looked 
upon them when they had had quite a different 
guide, now had grown so plump that it afforded 
them much assistance. When they stopped to light 
the lamps, they heard far behind them a faint but 
ominous sound. 

^^Hark! what is that?” cried* Billy. 

They all strained their eyes and ears. 

Nothing was to be seen, but from afar, through 
the silent night, they made out the unmistakable 
chug-chug of a motor-car. 


CHAPTER LIV 


J 

RED TAPE TO CUT ^ 

The half-admitted dream of keeping in the lead ' 
which had been in the Americans’ minds was 
snuffed out like a candle, yet none of them betrayed • 
his disappointment. 

They were safely housed at Ulrach before the 
Liehig puffed into town, rattling like an ice-wagon, 
but splendid in its huge power. 

Hullo, Willie Jag, we have been hoping you ’d 
come up to make a race of it,” said Blythe, with 
cheerful mendacity. 

Wilde jagd’s broad red face was all grin as he 
replied : — 

It iss nod a race you desire. It iss a gontest in 
skeeing ofer der snow, und joomping ditches, und 
such monkey bissness. Ya, it iss a goot liddle car; 
but ofer real r-roads you vatch de Liebig 

They found it difficult to ‘Watch de Liebig, 
however. For half an hour, the next morning, they 
managed to keep in sight of it ; then it drew away 
from them, in spite of the best efforts of the Phoenix \ 
Bird, and was lost to sight. ;i 

Three days later, the Briquette caught up with J 


RED TAPE — TO CUT 


263 


them, only to leave them behind in turn ; and a day 
afterwards the Ischia passed them, with a gay waving 
of hands. 

They passed a plain granite shaft, and in leaving 
it behind rolled from one continent into another. 
Asia, terrible Asia, lay behind them. They were now 
in Europe — in Russia, which holds so large a part 
of Asia under its sway. 

Soon after this, Raleigh and the Princess were 
sitting together on the rear seat. 

What is it you are thinking of so hard?” he 
asked, noting the intense thoughtfulness on her 
face. 

You have done so much for me,” she answered 
in an undertone ; will you not let me do a little 
for you?” 

He leaned toward her, so that his words should 
be for her alone : — 

You do not know how much you have already 
done for me — by just letting me know you. I used 
to be a sordid sort of a chap. I only thought of 
machinery — while now — ” 

She dropped her eyes before his ardent gaze. 

While now — ? ” she asked. 

^‘Now, I think — of you.” 

A tender smile curled the corners of her lips. 

Then, I must think for you,” she said. know 
what it would mean for you to win this race, and my 
weight must hinder you somewhat. Soon we shall 


264 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

be passing through a town where I have friends 
with whom you could leave me. They can smuggle 
me out of the country.” 

Raleigh shook his head in vehement protest. 

‘^But my weight must make some difference,” 
she pleaded. 

It does make a difference — to me ; and not to 
win all the races in the world would I have you run 
the smallest unnecessary risk. You are safer — at 
least, I feel that you are safer with me.” 

She smiled up at him. 

And I, too, feel safer with you than anywhere 
else in the world.” 

Russia was two thirds crossed without mishap, 
and the Phoenix Bird was steadily plugging away, 
when, late one afternoon, at a small railway station, 
they were unexpectedly stopped by an official who 
was possessed of more than the usual amount of 
official stupidity and reverence for red tape. 

He was the hairiest man they had ever seen. His 
head was a perfect mop of hair, his whiskers came 
up to his eyes, and jets of hair spouted from his 
ears and nose. He was a walking bush. 

They offered him their papers. He did not take 
them. Instead, he plied them with questions. 

The Princess, acting as interpreter, answered them 
all. He still remained unsatisfied. 

You say you are racing the cars which passed 


RED TAPE — TO CUT 


265 


through here before you? But they had four 
wheels, and you have only two; therefore you can- 
not be racing them. One does not race a cow and a 
horse together.” 

He was triumphant in his logic. 

But we are racing them. If you will examine 
our papers you will see that we are. And you are 
commanded to let us pass through Russia without 
hindrance.” 

That may be, or it may not,” replied the hairy 
one. I cannot tell at present. I have broken my 
glasses. Without them I cannot see what I am 
commanded to do. Moreover, in an hour a special 
train will pass, bearing a Grand Duke. It goes with- 
out stopping from here to the German frontier. It 
has the right of way over all other trains,” he ended 
proudly. 

We are very pleased to learn about the Grand 
Duke, but we, too, wish to get to the German fron- 
tier with as little stopping as possible.” 

Aha ! ” the Russian cried, with an expression 
of great shrewdness. ^^How do I know that you 
are not anarchists, planning to lay explosives on the 
track and blow him up ? ” 

You ought to know it the same way you know 
I’m not Teddy Roosevelt — by the smile on my 
face,” muttered Blythe. 

Tassa did not translate the remark. 

^^You could not go on anyhow,” the ofhcial con- 


266 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


tinued. It will soon be night, and there is a storm 
coming besides. Look behind you ! ’’ The eastern 
sky, indeed, was black with clouds. I can direct 
you to 'shelter. I sometimes accommodate travelers 
in my house,” the official added ingenuously. My 
charges are reasonable, though my expenses are 
high. There is no regular inn here. Just wait until 
the train passes. Then I shall be at liberty, and can 
conduct you to my house.” 

There seemed no way of getting past the obdu- 
rate official except by driving over him, and that 
would not be a profitable act. 

Into Raleigh’s eyes came one of his far-away 
looks, and a slight smile hovered on his lips. 

Blythe was angry; Princess Tassa was discour- 
aged ; but Billy, who noticed the expression on his 
chum’s face, waited hopefully. 

At length Raleigh came out of his trance. 

V ery well,” he said, if we cannot proceed on 
this road, I suppose we can’t.” 

The official nodded his wooden head in approval. 

The other passengers in the gyrocar had become 
aware of a certain quality of elation in Raleigh’s 
resignation, an elation which was reflected sympa- 
thetically in Billy. 

Tell him, please, that we ’ll back up the road a 
bit and take off our tires,” Raleigh said to Tassa. 

^^Take off the tires ! ” Blythe cried. ^^Is anything 
the matter with them ? ” 


RED TAPE — TO CUT 


267 


No, nothing at all,” replied Raleigh blandly. 

We ’ll just take ’em ofE same as you unharness a 
horse.” 

As he was speaking, he slowly and solemnly 
closed the eye which was on the offside of his head 
from the official. 

I Blythe asked no more questions. Billy coughed 

I in an embarrassed manner. 

i Princess Tassa, with a quick glance from one 
to the other of the Americans, translated the mes- 
sage. 

And ask him if he would mind my leaning the 
car up against a tree somewhere. I noticed a good 
stout one by the track, back yonder.” 

The official would have no objection to that, if 
he first examined the car and discovered no bombs 
concealed about it. 

His search revealing none, he graciously permitted 
the Phmnix Bird to lean against the tree. 

Raleigh took off his cap and bowed low. 

Give him our thanks, and assure him that if we 
injure the tree in any way we shall be glad to pay 
for the damage.” 

He drove the Phcenix Bird slowly backward 
till it came to the tree. It stood just beside the 
track. 

Now, off with the tires ! ” 

Billy set to work. The newspaper man planted 
himself in front of Raleigh. 


268 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


young and ingenious friend, would you 
mind telling me what all this ‘ monkey bissness ’ 
means? ” 

Wait till the Grand Duke’s train has passed,” 
replied Raleigh, and you will see.” 


CHAPTER LV 


A MAGICAL TBANSITION 

While the other two were busy taking the tires 
off the gyrocar, Blythe and the Princess loitered 
around rather disconsolately. 

The newspaper man stepped on the track and 
looked longingly in the direction they wished to go. 

^^See those two gleaming rails? They lead toward 
the glorious west — to life, liberty, and the pursuit 
of happiness. Princess. That ’s what you will find in 
my country — life, liberty, and the pursuit of hap- 
piness. The last one, at times, is a somewhat arduous 
affair, but at least you don’t find a dunderheaded 
cop blocking the trail because he has broken his 
goggles.” 

^^The ideals of your country are very beautiful,” 
the Princess answered. Let us hope some day they 
will become the ideals of the whole world, and that 
there shall be no such word as Siberia.” 

There will never be Siberia again in mine, if I 
can help it,” said Blythe firmly. ^^The little old 
United States is good enough for me.” 

Ah ! it is good enough for any one — that glo- 
rious country of yours, which shall soon be mine as 


270 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


well.” With a touch of sadness: It does not seem 
fair that we should be happy there, when so many 
persons here might be helped by us. But what can 
we do? They will never permit my father to re- 
turn to Russia again. I shall become an American, 
like you, when once I have escaped across the bor- 
der. What do you think is the plan in Mr. Kilbreth’s 
mind?” 

I don’t know. If I could think of all the things 
in ^ Mr. Kilbreth’s’ mind, I should n’t he doing news- 
paper work at forty per. I ’d be inventing aeroplanes 
to destroy Dreadnoughts ; and sky-guns to destroy 
aeroplanes; and wireless boogums to destroy sky- 
guns ; and something or other to destroy boogums. 
As a result of which services to the world, I should 
be called a great man and be showered with wealth. 
As it is, I solace my soul with poetry.” 

Oh ! are you a poet ? ” 

Well, in a manner of speaking, I am,” returned 
Blythe modestly. ^‘Now this track has been suggest- 
ing things to me : — 

You gleaming rails, 

For carrying mails, 

They lead to freedom 
And eke to — 

I have n’t been able to get a rhyme for freedom — 
There she blows ! ” 

From far up the track sounded the toot of a 
whistle. 

The train went fussily by without stopping. It 


? A MAGICAL TRANSITION 27r 

was composed of an engine, a tender piled high 
with coal, and two wagons-lits, and was no sixty- 
miles-an-hour flyer, special though it might be, and 
possessed of the right of way to the German frontier. 

Stand by, now, Blythe, and help put the Bird 
on the rail,” shouted Raleigh. 

Quick ! Up she goes ! ” 

In a dazed way Blythe lent a hand. Their experi- 
ence with the rope on the bridges of Japan had 
made them expert at the job, and with a quick heave 
they lifted first the front wheel and then the back 
one on the rail, the bare rims grasping it securely. 

Blythe gaped at it. His unmechanical mind never 
could become quite reconciled to the gyroscopic 
qualities of the Phcenix Bird, Each new manifest- 
ation of its powers caused him fresh astonishment; 
and now to perceive it balancing itself on the rail 
was as freshly wonderful to him as if he had not 
already seen it balancing itself for thousands of 
miles with no more lateral support than it received 
on the rail. 

All aboard ! ’’ cried Billy ; and in a minute the 
car was gliding smoothly toward the station, gather- 
ing speed with every second. 

The bushy official caught sight of it, and with a 
yell leaped on the track to stop it. 

For an instant Raleigh feared he should have to 
run him down. Instinctively his hand closed on the 


272 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

rubber bulb of the horn, and two terrific Honks 
fairly blew the Russian from the track. So awful a 
voice he had never heard before. 

The station dropped behind them like a plummet 
into the sea. In a flash it had gone out of their lives 
forever, and they were flying toward the west at a 
rate of speed the Phoenix Bird had never made be- 
fore. For never in all its varied experience — over 
good roads, over the velvety snow, over the brilliant 
glittering crust — had it had such perfect going as 
on this shining rail. Friction with the earth seemed 
eliminated from its labor. 

The transition from being helplessly blocked on 
the road to this state of magical progression was so 
sudden that the passengers in the car could hardly 
believe they were not dreaming. 

It was yet fair and light to the west. A golden 
sunset embraced half the sky, but it was no more 
golden than the vision of a far-away western hemi- 
sphere which was the ultimate goal of their journey. 

Behind them was racing the lurid hurricane, like 
the menacing hand of Darkest Russia, stretched out 
to overwhelm them utterly with its baleful power, 
ere they could escape beyond its borders. The fore- 
running wind of the storm swept along beside the 
car. The trees, with their swelling buds, writhed in 
agony before its power. Clouds of dust arose, like 
evil genii, and tore madly over the face of the earth 
and then vanished into the upper air. 


A MAGICAL TRANSITION 27S 


In the ever-lessening daylight, those in the PAce- 
nix Bird saw all this, for the moment out of it — 
as, for the moment, they felt out of the power of 
the Czar. They were almost in a dead calm; for 
they were flying along as fast as the wind itself. 
Raleigh was leaning over the wheel, urging on the 
creature of his brain to the utmost of its speed. 

‘‘Yes, we had better make hay,” muttered the 
newspaper man. “I suppose that chap will wire 
ahead and have us held up at the next station, and 
then—!” 

“ He may, or he may not,” Raleigh said grimly. 
“ Perhaps he will not care to acknowledge to his su- 
periors that he let us pass in pursuit of their precious 
Grand Duke. It will be black as ink in half an hour. 
If we can only catch up with the train — ” 

Although he had not finished his sentence, like a 
rocket in a black sky, his idea burst upon the con- 
sciousness of his friends. 

The train ahead of them was bound straight for 
the German frontier. If they could catch up with 
it and sneak along behind it unobserved, through 
town and country where the potency of a Grand 
Duke’s rank was unquestioned, they might make, 
in a single night, the progress it would have taken 
them days, or weeks, to accomplish over the roads. 

For a minute no one spoke. Billy fairly illumined 
the dusk with the glow of satisfaction which radi- 
ated from him. He had always known that Raleigh 


274 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


would find a way out of every difficulty. Only bring 
on a big enough difficulty and he would find a big 
enough scheme to solve it. 

The newspaper man shook his head pathetically 
as he turned to the Princess : — 

That fellow has a head.’’ 

He spoke as if he had just made the discovery 
and were pained. 

It became darker and darker, until they could see 
absolutely nothing of the country they were pass- 
ing through. Naturally they did not light their own 
lamps, and they strained their eyes for the rear lan- 
terns of the train. 

^^We’re taking just a risk or two,” murmured 
Blythe. A switch turned, after the train has passed, 
and it is good-bye — everything! ” 

A gentle breeze began to blow in their faces. 

‘‘The Bird is going faster than the wind,” said 
Billy exultantly, “and that is blowing fiercer than 
ever. I tell you we are going some ! ” 

In the night, and with the storm pursuing them, 
it was impossible to tell how fast they actually were 
going. Whenever there was a light near the track, 
it went past them like a shooting star. 

At length they caught sight of the tail lights of 
the train, and never did a green lantern afford such 
satisfaction. 

“Hurrah! now we’re all right,” shouted Raleigh. 
“We can creep up into the vacuum just behind the 


A MAGICAL TRANSITION 275 

train, and then it won’t take more than half the 
petrol it now does to keep up with it.” 

That ’s the way Mile-a-Minute Murphy managed 
it on his bicycle,” assented Blythe. I covered that 
for the Times. And the joke is on the Duke. He 
will never know he set the pace for us; for it is as 
black as the inside of a cow.” 

But in this surmise the tall man made a consider- 
able mistake. They had hardly taken their place 
just back of the buffers, when by some mischance 
the rear door of the car opened, and a man in uni- 
form flashed a lantern in their faces. 


CHAPTER LVI 


THE THING BEHIND 

For one second the blinding light of the lantern 
was in their eyes. Then there was a crash, and a tinkle 
of glass and metal, as it fell. The man who had held 
it disappeared inside the car. 

Here’s a how de do; here’s a pretty mess,” 
whistled Blythe softly. ‘^Have to drop back now, 
Cap’n, I suppose, and hit the road again.” 

Raleigh shook his head obstinately. He hated, as 
hates a dreamer, to abandon a good scheme. He 
might have to do as Blythe said, but he would wait 
a while and see. Perhaps the man would think he 
had been the victim of an hallucination, and say 
nothing about it to any one. 

Princess Tassa leaned over from the rear seat. 

You are still going to keep on behind the train ? ” 
she asked. 

For a time, yes.” 

Would it not be safer to make masks out of our 
handkerchiefs, so that we could not be recognized ? ” 

Blythe seconded the suggestion. That ’s an idea. 
You know what we are doing is n’t exactly regular.” 

Tassa’s deft fingers, with the help of Billy’s pen- 



IN THE WAKE OF THE GRAND DUKE’S TRAIN 




THE THING BEHIND 277 

knife, quickly fashioned four rude masks from their 
handkerchiefs. 

Meanwhile a singular scene was being enacted 
inside the train. 

The train-hand who had let the lantern fall not 
only did not think himself the victim of hallucination, 
but invested those he had seen with dread personality. 

He rushed unceremoniously into the presence of 
the Personage, and tremblingly announced that a 
band of anarchists were close in pursuit of them. 

The Grand Duke, the greatness of whose birth 
seemed to have robbed him of every vestige of other 
greatness, was a small man — small in size, small in 
courage, small in heart. He had already shown the 
metal he was of in the war with Japan, where he had 
been sent back from the front — without honor ! 

Blustering — yet with paling cheeks — he scouted 
the story of the train-hand. Such a thing was not 
possible. How could an engine come into the hands 
of anarchists ? The man was crazy ! 

The underling stuck to his story. It was not an 
mjgine. It was a low creeping car, the like of which 
he had never seen on the track before. 

The Grand Duke threw down the cards he had 
been playing with. 

Go and see ! ” he said to the three favorites at 
the gaming-table. 

They rose, slowly and awkwardly as mechanical 
toys. There was none of the usual alacrity with 


278 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAll 


which those sycophants and flatterers obeyed the 
behests of him they fawned upon. 

The rear door opened again — the merest crack 
— and three eyeballs, one above the other, glued 
themselves to the crack. 

In the ghastly green light from the tail-lamps of 
the train the masked Terror they saw sent them reel- 
ing back with blanched faces and quaking hearts. 

Their reports left no bluster about the Personage. 

In his wildest dream it would not have occurred 
to him to verify those reports with his own eyes. 

He accepted them with entire credulity, and magni- 
fied them tenfold with his craven imagination. 

He thought his last hour had come, and called 
upon his favorite saint to busy himself in his be- 
half. 

What horrible fate were these silent pursuers pre- 
paring for him? Why did nothing happen? As 
hour after hour passed the suspense was horrible. 
Once he became so frenzied that he was on the point 
of throwing himself from the train, and had to be 
forcibly restrained by members of his suite. 

He cowered in the first of the two cars, until even 
that seemed too near to the avengers. Then he in- 
sisted on climbing over the tender to the engineer’s 
cab on the locomotive, where he kept bribing the fire- 
men to pile on more and more fuel. He lavished all 
the money he had on his person, and gave promises 
of more to come, should he escape with his life — 


279 


THE THING BEHIND 

promises, it may be mentioned, which he afterwards 
easily forgot. 

When he saw the fuel of the tender getting low, 
he was seized with a fresh panic, and ordered his 
suite to rip up the woodwork in the two cars behind 
and bring it forward to bum in the engine. The 
more they brought, the more he demanded, till there 
was hardly a splinter left, and the cars looked as if 
the tornado behind had passed through and devas- 
tated them. 


CHAPTER LVII 


AT THE BREAK OF DAY 

The anxiety with which those in the gyrocar 
awaited the next move of those in the train grad- 
ually lessened, as time passed and there was no 
move. The only change they noticed was an increase 
of speed in the train, until — in spite of the still air 
about them — they felt that they were rushing along 
at a truly marvelous rate. 

I wish we had a speedometer. I should just like 
to know how fast we are going,” said Raleigh. 

You would n’t have thought the old engine 
had so much up its sleeve, would you ? ” put in 
Billy. 

But why do you suppose they don’t open that 
door again and continue our acquaintance ? ” 

The unnaturalness of this worried the newspaper 
man. 

I guess they take us for Whitecaps,” suggested 
Billy sagely ; and they have made up their minds 
to be good.” 

In the suction behind the train they found that 
the Phanix Bird could keep its place without the 
slightest trouble on a relatively small consumption 


AT THE BREAK OF DAY 281 

of the precious petrol. And as the night wore on, 
this became a matter of considerable importance to 
them. Though the tanks on their car were large, 
she had never been designed for a twelve hours’ run 
at such speed. 

As hour after hour went by, this miraculous flying 
through the night became actually monotonous. 
There was, of course, no steering to do, and the 
motor required only slight attention. 

At irregular intervals a cluster of lights would 
denote their passage through a town. These would 
flash upon them and be gone in a moment, and the 
universal blackness would again engulf them. Once 
an unusual number of lights indicated a city of large 
size. Its name they did not even try to guess. 

After a time the swift motion acted as a powerful 
soporific, and Blythe and the Princess fell soundly 
asleep in their seats. Billy and Raleigh took turns 
in minding the engine and sleeping. 

Toward the end of the night it was Raleigh’s 
trick at the wheel. The first gleam of light had not 
appeared in the eastern sky, still there was a just 
perceptible lessening of the opaqueness of the night. 
Although he could make out nothing, it was no 
longer black chaos he was rushing through, he was 
again on the dark earth. The storm had passed off to 
the right, and yet in the vacuum behind the train he 
was still protected thoroughly from the rushing air, 
which closed in a few feet behind him. 


282 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


There was a slight bump of the Phomix Bird 
against the car ahead. 

Raleigh woke up with a start. 

He must have been dozing, for now there were 
faint streaks of light in the sky behind, and the 
passing landscape could quite distinctly be seen. 

Odd that he should have run into the train, he 
thought. It would have been more natural if he had 
fallen behind. The train must be going slower. 

It must be so; for again he had to close the 
throttle — and presently again, to prevent another 
collision. 

They passed a road, crossing the track, and by 
this time they were going no more than fifteen 
miles an hour. 

Raleigh called to the others. 

Sodden with sleep, they roused themselves and 
stared at each other in their masks, not knowing 
but that they were in a nightmare. 

Where am I ? ” asked Blythe, and who are 
you?’’ 

Wake up, and pull that thing off your head,” 
answered Raleigh. ^‘1 don’t know where we are, 
but our name will be Dennis, if we don’t look out. 
The train is stopping. Maybe they are out of coal. 
We ’d better get away from here before they investi- 
gate and find out who we are.” 

He ran the Phomix Bird back to the cross- 
road. 


AT THE BREAK OF DAY 283 

Now we ’ll lift her off, and put the tires on, and 
make tracks for parts unknown.” 

All were thoroughly awake by this time, and set 
to work with haste. They had only put one of the 
tires on, when Blythe cried warningly : — 

What 's that f ” 

They were petrified to see the train they had 
deserted bearing down upon them in the dim gray 
light. 

For a second not one of the four even drew a 
breath. Then, to the consternation of his com- 
panions, Raleigh began to laugh hysterically. 

Has he gone crazy ? ” demanded Blythe. 

No, I have n’t ; but they have finally done what 
I was so afraid of their doing last night that I hardly 
dared think of it, lest the idea be carried telepathi- 
cally to them. They just cut their last car loose, 
and ran away with the rest.” 

But why is the car coming back to us ? ” asked 
the newspaper man. 

There must be an up grade here, and gravity is 
bringing it back.” 

^^And the others will return with an ^^rmored 
train and a couple of Gatling guns presently,” Billy 
suggested. 

That ’s what we may expect, if we stay here 
long,” assented his chum, so we had better get 
away from here just as fast as we can.” 

When the second tire was in place, they followed 


284 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

the cross-road to the south. They had no idea 
whither it led. 

By seven o’clock they reached a small town where 
they were able to replenish their stores of petrol 
and oil. 

They inquired the name of the town. The shop- 
keeper told them. 

It conveyed to them no idea of their whereabouts. 
Even Blythe was entirely at fault, and they were 
afraid to ask too much. 

I thought I knew the route by heart for some 
distance ahead of us,” the correspondent said, but 
this beats me. All I can say is that we are a long 
way from where we started.” 

Tassa had some more talk with the shopkeeper, 
who knew all about the great race, and asked innu- 
merable questions. Through what towns had they 
come? Where had they spent the night? How 
many versts had they covered the day before ? And 
many more particulars, which she found it embarrass- 
ing to answer. 

As the best way to avoid his questions, she ques- 
tioned him. Then in utter amazement she turned to 
the Americans : — 

He says we are only thirty versts from the Ger- 
man border.” 

Three hundred, you mean.” 

She spoke to the man again. 

‘‘ No, he says thirty ^ 


AT THE BREAK OF DAY %S5 


If that is so/’ Raleigh said softly, as if not to 
awaken himself out of the beautiful dream, if that 
is so, that big town was Warsaw — and we must be 
in the lead of the race again. And — and it scares 
me to think how many miles we traveled last night.” 


CHAPTER LVIII 


AN EXTRA 

They were all so startled by the news that they 
went on without asking which road to take. 

A milkman was delivering his wares, and of him 
they inquired the way. 

He looked at them with the greatest surprise. 

‘‘ That road is the one which goes to Germany, of 
course,” he replied loftily. 

They cared not what his attitude toward them 
was so long as he gave them the information they 
desired. Without waiting to get anything to eat, 
they set off for the frontier. Indeed, with the end of 
Poland — the last bit of land under Russian dominion 
— so near, they could not stop to think of food. 

It seemed incredible that Freedom should be only 
an hour away. They felt as if they must hasten on 
without an instant’s delay, or some unforeseen ob- 
stacle would arise, and they would be too late. 

Yet when the last moment came, it passed so un- 
sensationally that they might only have been out 
for a morning’s drive. There was no Chinese Wall 
between tyranny and freedom. No dragon sat there 
with slavering jaws. Some commonplace men in uni- 


AN EXTRA 287 

form, going about their business in an ordinary 
manner, gave an official examination to their papers, 
and wished them success in the race. The motor 
started up in just the same way it had started up 
a thousand times before. The wheels made a few 
revolutions — and it was all over. 

The realization of a long-striven-for object seldom 
brings with it a joy as acute as the hope that has 
kept it alive. On the four in the car there came a 
kind of sadness when the tension under which they 
had been for so long was removed. 

They had become such good friends, during the 
trials they had borne in common, that they could 
not bear the thought of parting from each other. 
Almost in silence they drove on till they reached 
Gnesen, the first German town beyond the frontier. 
This was not where they had expected to pass through, 
and Prince Anastasief was waiting for them at Thorn, 
some distance to the north. 

They stopped at Gnesen for dinner, of which they 
were in sore need, in spite of something eaten in the 
car as they went along. The strain of the last twenty- 
four hours — the culmination of their long journey 
through the dominion of the Czar — had been greater 
than they had realized, and they were nearly worn 
out. 

While at dinner a boy came running past the win- 
dow of the Wirthshaus, shouting something at the 
top of his lungs. 


288 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

Tassa called him to her, and bought a paper. 

It is an extra edition,” she said, smiling, and 
I think it will be of interest to you. Listen to this,” 
and she translated the headlines : — 

EXTRAORDINARY NIGHT ATTACK 
GRAND DUKE’S TRAIN 
FOLLOWED BY ANARCHISTS FOR 
600 MILES 

DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO 
KILL HIM 

GRAND DUKE BRAVELY 
REPULSES THEM 

CAVALRY NOW SCOURING 
COUNTRY FOR MISCREANTS 

The narrative accompanying the picture was quite 
as bloodcurdling as the headlines. After a circum- 
stantial account of the fusillade poured upon the 
devoted train by the anarchists, which wrought a 
devastation in the cars which must be seen to be 
believed — it was little less than a miracle that no 
one was mortally wounded,” the article wound up 
with : — 

‘‘ The Grand Duke kept these ruffians at hay with 
the most magnificent courage, during the whole long 
night. Only at daybreak, when their ammunition 
was exhausted, and the fuel for the engine nearly 
gone, did they cut loose the rear car, and themselves 
speed away. They had hoped to entice them along 
to some garrison town on the border, and there effect 


AN EXTRA 289 

their capture. Troops are now scouring the country 
for the miscreants, and there is little doubt that they 
will soon be taken. 

^^And look at these pictures,” the Princess ex- 
claimed, after she had translated the article to them. 

They ’re said to be ^ drawn from descriptions of 
eye-witnesses,’ too.” 

Had the Americans not been sure that the article 
could refer to no one except themselves /it would 
never have occurred to them that the Phanix Bird 
could present such an appearance, even to the most 
myopic of eye-witnesses. It had become a huge car, 
with a crew of ruffians aboard it sufficient in number 
to man a liner, and of such ferocity of demeanor 
that it fairly shone through the white caps that 
covered their hideous lineaments. 

Blythe studied the picture a long time. 

^^I’m sorry for them,” he said at length. ^^They 
must have been scared.” 

The sadness which all four felt at their approach- 
ing separation was lightened by the humor of this 
lurid account. 

^^And now, my dear companions,” said the Prin- 
cess with a certain timidity, “I have a favor to ask 
of you.” 

Well, I guess you can consider it granted, — eh, 
Raleigh?” Blythe replied. 

The young man’s face, however, held a look of 
anxiety, and he did not speak. 


290 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

Avoiding his eyes, the Princess addressed herself 
to the other two. 

^‘It is this : I want you to win the race — I want 
it -ever so much. My father is waiting for me at 
T , I can perfectly well go — ” 

11, I guess not,'' Raleigh broke in impetu- 
ously We will take you to him, and hand you 
over s. " ad sound.” 

Tass» >uted prettily. 

ha *ved so long under a despotism, I should 
love to feei e to travel where I wished. And I did 
want to have . v own way in this. I — I — ” 

Oh, but it is n’t that ; only — ” 

I have done everything you told me to till now. 
I thought in America men did what girls wanted 
them to. And I do so want you to win this race. A 
few hours’ delay may just make the difEerence.” 

^^But your father — ” Raleigh began lamely. 

My father has been living in America : he will 
understand when I tell him that I made you.” 

At this point Tassa obtained an ally in Blythe. 

It would n’t have occurred to me not to take the 
Princess to Thorn ourselves,” he said 5 but there is 
a lot of sense in her idea. She can really travel there 
in perfect safety; and though it wouldn’t take us 
long to go there, it might just make the difference 
between winning and losing.” 

Raleigh was moodily drumming on the table with 
his fingers, loath to yield. 


AN EXTRA 


291 


Tassa leaned forward and spoke to him directly. 

You must admit the sense of Mr. Blythe’s 
words.” 

Oh, yes, they’re sensible enough,” he bjirst 
forth — and then stopped, blushing. He coi^-K' I'^t 
go on and say that a few more hours in coW^^iny 
with Tassa meant more to him than winning the 
race. 

Please say I may go,” she pleaded. 

There seemed nothing for Raleigh to do except 
to assent. 

At least, take Merk with you. I shall feel that 
you are safer.” 


CHAPTER LIX 


DAY AND NIGHT 

They drove her to the station, where fortunately 
they found a train just about to start north. A lib- 
eral tip procured for her and Merk a compartment 
to themselves — somewhat against the strict regula- 
tions, it must be admitted ; but there are few coun- 
tries where regulations do not doff their caps to 
money. 

Merk followed Tassa into the compartment, glanc- 
ing bacl^hopefully at his master. When it was 
made clear to him that they were to separate, he 
barked his protest. He could not see why they 
should not always keep on together. But as if he 
understood that he was intrusted with the safety 
of the girl, he did not try to jump out of the com- 
partment. He took his seat with doggish dignity at 
her side, and from there barked good-bye to his old 
friends. 

The three Americans stood bareheaded, as the 
train went off, till long after they lost sight of the 
dark, sensitive face of her who had become so en- 
deared to them. 

Blythe turned away at length with a sigh. 


DAY AND NIGHT 


293 


never took much stock in princesses and such 
before ; hut if the rest are like that little trump of 
a girl, all I can say is, ^ Hurrah for princesses ! 

Kaleigh swallowed hard once or twice. 

I ’m glad she ’s got Merk with her,’’ was all he 
said. 

Billy put his arm through his chum’s sympathet- 
ically, without uttering a word. 

In silence they walked out of the station, back to 
the strangely lonely-looking Phcenix Bird, Blythe 
glanced at Raleigh, and, suddenly assuming an air 
of great briskness, said : — 

^^And now we might as well hit the trail for 
Paris. We have still the race to win, you know.” 

Billy cranked the machine, and they started. 
They were now on the famous roads of Germany — 
roads which would be perfect the rest of the way 
to Paris. The Phoenix Bird sped along, its motor 
working as smoothly as if it had just left the shop 
in Punchard, instead of having covered three quar- 
ters of the globe, and come over some of the roughest 
going which could be traversed by wheels. 

The delightful smoothness of the roads and the 
return to civilization would have been most welcome 
to the Americans had they not known that these 
same good roads would help their high-powered 
rivals far more. 

During the course of the day they learned that 
the Liehig was only seventy-five miles behind them, 


294 TWO BOYS IN A GYKOCAR 

with the Briquette and the Ischia neck and neck 
fifty miles farther away. 

They soon came to realize that this close finish 
was rousing the greatest excitement in Germany, 
where it was hoped that the preeminence of France 
in the manufacture of motors was on the eve of 
being wrested from her by the lAebig^s victory. 

At this stage of the race the possibilities of the 
Phoenix Bird were not seriously considered, when 
there were real roads instead of trackless wastes to 
traverse ; and this was an opinion in which our young 
inventors could not but concur. 

Barring accidents, they will overhaul us hand over 
hand,” admitted Raleigh sadly to his companions; 

and with ordinary care there need be no accidents 
now.” 

^^That^s very true,” Billy admitted cheerfully. 
But, on the other hand, with ordinary carelessness 
there is always likely to be some accident.” 

The correspondent brooded over the situation for 
a long time without saying a word. Billy turned to 
him hopefully. 

What do you think about it?” he asked. 

“ * But I was thinking of a plan 
To dye my whiskers green, 

And then to use so large a fan 
That they could not be seen. * ” — 

he quoted enigmatically. 

‘‘Did you write that?” Billy asked respectfully. 


295 


DAY AND NIGHT 

^^No, my son; I wish I had. That is from AlicCy 
— I am sorry to see you do not know your Alice, — 
but we must not let ourselves stray away into the 
realm of poesy at this juncture. What I was think- 
ing was this: You two can’t drive this car night and 
day without any rest, can you ? ” 

No ; I wish we could,” answered Raleigh ruefully. 
I suppose the Phoenix Bird could stand it ? ” 
Yes, I believe the good little thing would go on 
from here to Paris without stopping.” 

Here is the idea which has been germinating 
in my brain. Of course, I don’t pretend to know 
anything about machinery in general, but I have 
learned to run the car a bit, have n’t I ? ” 

You do very well,” answered Raleigh. 

Suppose, then, that we divide the time in two- 
i hour shifts, and each take his trick at the wheel, 

I turn and turn about ? That will give each of us four 
hours off out of six. We ’ll arrange the rear seat as 
; a kind of bed, and as soon as one of us leaves the 
wheel, he will be entitled to two hours’ sleep. In 
! that way we can keep going night and day — and 
' only stop for gasolene and supplies. I ’ll engage to 
I prepare the meals in part of my time off ; and if you 
I could fix me up a box to hold a little alcohol lamp 
I I ’d show you what a chef I really am.” 

I I say, that ’s good of you, Blythe,” Raleigh ex- 
j claimed, ^^for we need every minute if we ’re not to 
I be hopelessly distanced.” , 


CHAPTER LX 


LOSING THE LEAD 

It was a ceaseless grind, in some ways harder than 
anything they had yet been through. They had ex- 
pected it to be easier on good roads, but they found, 
curiously enough, that they missed the variety which 
bad roads afforded. There was a monotony about 
this present fair method of progressing which wearied 
the brain. The bad roads had, at least, given to their 
minds and to their muscles some change, whenever 
they had come to a spot which appeared impassable 
and with which they had to wrestle. 

There were no stops and consultations now. It 
was always the same : forever going forward, eyes 
glued on the road ahead, mile after mile reeling 
past, till it seemed as if life were nothing except one 
eternal trundling forward over the smooth surface 
of the earth. 

They came to Schwerin in the dead of night. 
This being one of the places where they expected to 
renew their tires, they had telegraphed ahead, and 
Prince Anastasief’s agent was awaiting them. 

There, while Billy and the agent busied them- 
selves in putting on the tires, Kaleigh and Blythe 


LOSING THE LEAD 


297 


rigged up a soap-box with alcohol lamp for culinary 
purposes. The last time they had changed tires had 
been in Siberia, and while these were still in fair con- 
dition, owing to their long run on the rail, they could 
hardly be relied on to make the entire trip to Paris, 
and they wanted no breakdown, even if it meant a 
little delay now. 

They were all pretty well worn out, and the events 
of the last thirty-six hours had told severely on them. 
Yet, to the amazement of the host at the inn where 
they had stopped, they set off again, instead of seek- 
ing some hours of rest in bed. From the innkeeper 
they had secured another large cushion, and with 
this the rear seat seemed a veritable bed of ease to 
their tired bodies, when to each one came his allotted 
two short hours of sleep. 

Over the perfect German roads they bowled along 
as fast as Raleigh considered safe for the motor of 
the gyrocar, in view of the tremendous task that was 
asked of it. 

The hours wore on, — those hours which can fly so 
fast, or crawl so slowly, — and they seemed all alike 
to the three weary ones in the car, though sometimes 
the moon shone, and sometimes the sun, and some- 
times the only light on their way came from their 
own lamps. 

Gradually, however, they adapted themselves to 
their circumstances, as man has the power of doing 
more than any other animal. They learned to rest in 


298 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

their two hours of sleep on the rear seat, and to awaken 
ready to take their turn at the wheel. 

And the little car kept on going. 

^Gt’s all due to my cooking, I believe,” said 
Blythe. I have a great mind to start a sanitarium 
when I get back. There would be more money in it 
than in poetry.” 

On the way to Berlin, the lAehig came snorting 
up alongside them. 

At the sight of the little car, Lauterworter stood 
up in his seat, open-mouthed with amazement and 
incredulity mingled with admiration. 

Donnerwetter ! ” he cried. Does your machine 
haf vings concealed underneat, like a beetle, und 
shpread ’em out in der night und fly ? How haf you 
manage shlip by us ? ” 

^^We only emulate the busy bee, and improve 
each shining hour,” Blythe answered. 

But did you not haf many trubbles in Russia 
before you got into Shermany?” Wildejagd put 
in. 

^^No, I believe we made about our best time 
along there,” Raleigh answered, his eyes twinkling. 

I nefer see such vellers ! You say you haf twelf 
horse-bower. Maybe ofer der good roads you haf ; 
but I tink you haf ’bout hundert mule-bower for 
shkippin’ along ofer der bad roads, like a waterbug,” 
said Lauterworter. 

Good-bye, now ! ” Wildejagd laughed jovially, 


299 


LOSING THE LEAD 

as a man does who is confident in his powers. ^^You 
vill not shlip py ns again. No more waterbug ship- 
ping here. So long ! V e haf big banquet in Berlin 
to-night. Ve must hurry ahead.” 

With doleful countenances the Americans saw 
the Liehig draw away. No banquets for them ! No- 
thing hut endless plodding along at the best speed 
they were capable of. 

^^It’s an uphill game,” murmured Blythe. 
feel something the way I did when we started out of 
New York, and they ran away from us as if we had 
been tied to a lamp-post.” 

There were twelve ahead of us then,” suggested 
Billy. Now there is only one.” 

Almost unnoticed the Phoenix Bird passed 
through Berlin. They could have had ^ banquet 
themselves, had they been so minded. And news- 
paper men and motorists and sightseers would have 
clustered around them. But they arrived in town at 
eleven o’clock, and kept right on through. 

Outside of one hall, which was especially gay 
with lights and music and every sign of festivity, 
they saw the lAehig standing, huge and weather- 
beaten, guarded by policemen and surrounded by 
a crowd of admiring spectators. It was taking its 
hours of ease, while the Phoenix Bird plodded 
along. 

In spite of this, by the middle of the next day, 
the Liebig passed them again; and seven hours 


300 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


later the Briquette swept by them at forty miles an 
hour, hot on the trail of the leader. 

Yet neither of these kept at their task the whole 
twenty-four hours as did the brave little gyrocari 




CHAPTER LXI 


TOO MUCH ENTHUSIASM 

Although the public was permitted to see and 
to admire the Liebig and the BriquettCy and to 
waste their drivers’ brief hours of rest in banquets 
and addresses of welcome, it began to take an un- 
accountable interest in the mysterious little car of 
the young Americans, which slipped through the 
eager cities with never a stop. 

The newspapers, of course, soon saw how the 
ever-onward flitting of the Phoenix Bird appealed 
to the imagination of the public, and were at pains 
to cater to it. Cars filled with reporters cruised 
along it from every town, shouting out questions 
and noting answers. 

Blythe was too good a newspaper man himself 
not to satisfy them fully, though certain of the most 
interesting details, for obvious reasons, he did not 
think best to divulge. 

Above all, what captivated the world was the in- 
controvertible fact that this little car, the invention 
and the work of two young men, had thus far held 
its own, in this terrible journey, with the products 
of the most famous factories of Europe and America. 


302 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

Telegrams began to be shot at Raleigh, addressed 
to every town where he might be caught, and de- 
livered by motor-cyclists. These were from manu- 
facturers of Germany, France, Italy, and America, 
imploring him to pledge himself to no one else until 
he had seen their representatives. 

Perhaps the most satisfactory of all these flying 
messages which chased him along, was the follow- 
ing:— 

Congratulations » I missed a big chance, 

Mortimer Z. Kidder, 

The farther they proceeded, the greater evidences 
of popular interest did they encounter. Swarms of 
other motors played about them, — gayly painted 
cars, spick and span, — yet insignificant butterflies 
compared to them. 

Little bands of schoolgirls, in white dresses and 
pink and blue sashes, stood with baskets of roses, 
and strewed them in their path. The Americans 
waved their hands and shouted their thanks, but 
never stopped. 

Onward they plodded, one of them always asleep 
in the rear, Blythe at intervals cooking meals for 
them in his box. Two swift cars were ahead of them. 
There did not appear to be a possible chance of 
overtaking them with their own slower car; yet 
never for an instant did they slacken their efforts, 
though the race seemed hopelessly lost. 


TOO MUCH ENTHUSIASM 303 

At Coblenz, the last of the big German towns, a 
great banquet was given the Liehig^s crew. They 
ate and they drank without self-restraint ; for the 
race was assuredly theirs. They stood up and de- 
clared that they would cross France with a burst of 
speed which would prove Germany first and the rest 
nowhere. 

They were cheered and toasted to make the roof 
come off ; and from the banqueting-hall they dashed 
away into the night like a whirlwind. 

Their heads were hot from the wine they had 
drunk and the flattery they had listened to. Gone 
was their fatigue. Wide they opened the throttle, 
and tremendous the speed that resulted. They 
grazed corners, escaped lamp-posts by inches, and 
swerved from side to side of the road. They felt like 
demigods to whom no harm could come. 

For some hours, with marvelous luck, they es- 
caped every danger. Then it began to drizzle, 
and at a turn they skidded ignominiously into the 
ditch. 

Early in the morning the Phcmix Bird came 
upon them there. A rumble of polysyllabic guttural 
German thickened the air about them, strong, but 
not strong enough to lift the car and straighten its 
axle. That would require hours of hard work, when 
hours were composed of golden moments of oppor- 
tunity. 

More carefully than ever did the young Amer- 


304 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 

icans drive after this, taking no chances of dam- 
aging either themselves or other users of the high- 
way. 

Most of the drivers in the race considered that 
they had a sort of divine right to the whole of the 
road — an assumption which led them first and last 
into no little trouble. 

Halfway between Luxembourg and Eheims they 
overtook the Briquette in an angry altercation with 
a peasant into whose cart they had run, and whose 
ox they had killed. 

Fired by passing the dreaded Liehig^ the Bri- 
quette was running down a hill at a tremendous rate of 
speed, and had not the dull-pated peasant conceived 
the road to be as much designed for his use as for 
that of automobiles, it would have gained such a dis- 
tance on the German car, before it could be mended, 
as to be beyond competition. As it was, the French 
crew came very near being haled before the local 
magistrate. Only by appealing to the peasant’s pa- 
triotism, and by paying liberally for his ox, were they 
enabled to proceed on their way. 

Then they discovered that the ox-cart itself had 
been entirely devoid of patriotism, and had smashed 
their left front wheel so badly that they could barely 
limp along to the next town at a snail’s pace. Luckily 
they were not far from their factory, and could get 
a new wheel in a few hours. 

The little Phoenix Bird was again in the lead, 


TOO MUCH ENTHUSIASM 305 


crawling along toward its goal — its very respectable 
pace seemed to its drivers only a crawl — with the 
knowledge that two powerful monsters would soon 
again be in pursuit of it. 


CHAPTER LXn 


PARIS ON TIPTOE 

Paris — while the three motor-cars were struggling 
desperately onward — was becoming so excited over 
the contest that it lost interest in all other events. 

On the night before the cars were expected to ar- 
rivOj bulletins of the race were sent to all the clubs, 
hotels, and restaurants. The theatres interrupted 
their performances to read aloud the latest reports. 

Amid a solemn hush, and followed by deep groan- 
ing, a telegram was read: — 

Liebig repaired traveling fast expects overhaul Phoenix 
Bird morning. 

The metropolis was cheered, however, toward the 
end of the fourth act, by the following message : — 

Briquette on road again tearing across France ventre h terre 
expects pass Phoenix Bird. 

A crowd clustered about the bulletin boards in 
front of the newspaper offices all night long, cheer- 
ing when the French car was reported doing well, 
and groaning savagely when the German seemed to 
be gaining. 

At daybreak the city was already up. From the 
Matin office for miles out into the country the roads 


PARIS ON TIPTOE 


307 


were lined with people on the qui mm for the first 
sight of the winning racer. All the other parts of 
Paris were deserted. 

If the nation had been waiting to learn its fate 
in a great battle, the excitement could hardly have 
been more intense. 

Most of them hoped that the French car would 
win from the hulking German ; but there was a large 
number who hoped that the plucky little Yankee car 
would come in first. 

The route to be followed by the racers made a 
detour around the city in order to enter by the 
Champs Elysees. 

It was fortunate that this wide street with its big 
open spaces had been chosen. Otherwise hundreds 
would have been badly crushed. 

At length those lucky enough to have obtained a 
place on the Arc de Triomphe espied through their 
binoculars far out on the horizon a little black speck. 

Nearer and nearer it sped, in a marvelous sprint 
as it approached its goal. 

A cry arose, sweeping over the spectators like fire 
along a line of gunpowder. 

The Briquette! The Briquette!'^ 

An instant later the report was contradicted, and 
the oncoming car was declared to be the lAehig, 

Along the Avenue de Neuilly it flew; up the 
Avenue de la Grande Armee it panted ; around the 


308 TWO BOYS IN A GYROCAR 


Arc de Triomphe it swept; and down the Champs 
Elysees it tore. 

The Place de la Concorde was a sea of faces, and 
a storm of cheers and a spray of up-thrown hats 
passed over it as the car clove its way through it, 
like the Israelites through the Red Sea. 

Only then, from the Eiffel Tower, did there float 
out the majestic folds of Old Glory. 

The brave little gyrocar reached the office of Le 
Matin half an hour in front of the Briquette, and a 
bare hour before the Liehig, 

The populace went mad over the victory of ^^Ces 
braves Americains,” and in their enthusiasm the 
French forgave it for beating their own champion. 

It was lucky that its equilibrium was entirely 
stable ; for it was almost swept from the ground by 
the surging mob. 

At the Matin office, the crowd filled the street 
solidly from curb to curb. The aristocrats were cheer- 
ing from windows, from coaches, and from automo- 
biles, stalled in the quicksands of humanity. 

A veteran adherent of the former emperors of 
France exclaimed : ^‘If only a Bonaparte had made 
the trip in ee drdle de geero-car, he would be em- 
peror in twenty-four hours.” 

From one of the high coaches came a sharp bark, 
which sounded natural. Looking up, the Americans 
saw Merk, frantically struggling to leap down on the 
heads below and come to his master. A slender, pretty 


PARIS ON TIPTOE 309 

girl had her arms around him and was holding him 
back. 

It was Tassa, and there was that shining in her 
eyes, as they met those of Raleigh Kilbreth, which 
meant more to him than the winning of the race and 
the acclamation of the populace. 

Beside her stood Prince Anastasief and Raleigh’s 
father and mother, waving and shouting. 

I just wish some of those editors who refuse my 
poetry could see me now,” said Blythe proudly. 

But who was this heavy-shouldered man, in plain 
clothes and with roughened hands, who sprang down 
from the coach and ploughed his way through the 
mass of humanity like a sturgeon through minnows? 

Why, father ! ” cried Billy, thinking he surely 
could not be seeing aright. You here? ” 

^^Yes, son,” answered Hawpe. 

His face had lost its bloated look, and his eyes 
were clear. 

I am here. I had an idea that contraption you 
boys made would n’t be far behind at the end. And, 
Billy,” he added in an undertone, ‘‘1 want to tell 
you that there are real trees growing around our 
house now, and flowers in the garden — just the 
way your mother always wanted. And you did it, 
Billy! You did it 1 ” 


THE END 


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